What is Ethereum Name Service (ENS)?

Ethereum Naming Service is a branch from the original blockchain network which aims to make the crypto space, particularly within the DeFi and Web3 sectors, more user-friendly and accessible. Similar to how Domain Name Service made the internet more accessible, Ethereum Name Service aims to do the same and become a fundamental component of these sectors.

What is Ethereum Name Service (ENS)?

Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is a decentralized naming system that simplifies sending and receiving payments in the Ethereum network. It works like a domain name service (DNS) uses IP addresses, but instead for Ethereum crypto addresses, allowing users to register human-readable names that are mapped to their Ethereum addresses. This makes it easier to remember and share addresses, instead of having to remember long strings of characters.

For example, a user could register the domain name "myname.eth" and associate it with their Ethereum wallet address. Once registered, anyone can send payments to "myname.eth" instead of the complicated Ethereum address.

Users can register a name through various ENS domain registrars or directly through the ENS manager. Once registered, the name is added to the Ethereum Name Service Registry, and the user becomes the owner of that name. ENS uses a hierarchical system of domains similar to the DNS system used for the internet. 

Once registered, the user can then set the resolver, which is a smart contract that provides information about the Ethereum wallet address associated with the ENS name.

The resolver can be thought of as a mapping function between the name and the Ethereum wallet address. When someone sends a payment to an ENS name, the resolver is queried to retrieve the associated Ethereum address. Once the Ethereum wallet address is retrieved, the payment can be sent directly to the address.

ENS also allows users to add additional data to their domain names, such as an IPFS hash or a swarm hash, making it possible to associate decentralized content with a domain name. For example, a user could associate an IPFS hash with their domain name, making it possible to access decentralized content using a human-readable name.

Who created Ethereum Name Service?

Ethereum Name Service (ENS) was initially part of the Ethereum Foundation and proposed by Nick Johnson in 2016 as a way to simplify the process of sending and receiving payments in the Ethereum network. Nick Johnson is a software engineer that previously worked at Google and the Ethereum Foundation. 

The ENS system was launched as a separate entity in May 2017 as a decentralized naming service on the Ethereum blockchain. Since its launch, ENS has been widely adopted by the Ethereum community and has become an essential part of the Ethereum ecosystem.

How does Ethereum Name Service work?

The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) system is similar to the DNS (Domain Name System) used on the internet. Users can register an ENS domain name under the .eth top-level domain and associate them with their Ethereum addresses by using the platform's smart contracts.

This means that instead of sending payments to complicated and hard-to-remember Ethereum crypto addresses, users can simply send payments to easy-to-remember domain names. For example, instead of sending funds to 0x71C7656EC7ab88b098defB751B7401B5f6d89, users can instead send funds to tap.eth. 

The system uses two smart contracts to make this possible: the registry and the resolver. 

ENS Registry

To use ENS, users must first register a name through a registrar. Registrars are entities that facilitate the registration of domain names under the .eth top-level domain and store all the domains. Once a user has registered a name, it is added to the ENS Registry, and the user becomes the owner of that name.

ENS Resolver

The next step is to set the resolver, which is a smart contract that provides information about the Ethereum address associated with the ENS domain. Resolvers can be set by the user or they can use one of the default resolvers provided by ENS. Once the resolver is set, users can associate their Ethereum crypto address with their ENS name. This is done by adding a record to the resolver that maps the ENS name to the wallet address.

ENS allows users to add additional data to their ENS domains, such as an IPFS hash or a swarm hash. ENS also supports subdomains, which are domains that are associated with a parent domain name. This makes it possible to create a hierarchical naming system that is similar to the DNS system used on the internet.

What is the ENS token?

The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) did not have its own token until recently. In 2021, the ENS team announced the launch of a new governance token called ENS, which is separate from the old ERC-20 token with the same name. 

The new ENS token is used for governance and voting purposes and is not used to pay for the registration or renewal of ENS domain names. Instead, users need to pay in ETH to register their “.eth” domains, with an idea of the costs reflected below (subject to change due to market fluctuations, please review the ENS website for accurate costs):

$5 in ETH per year, for a five+ character .eth ENS domain;

$160 in ETH per year, for a four-character .eth ENS domain;

$640 in ETH per year, for a three-character .eth ENS domain.

The higher prices are due to the supply of three- and four-character .eth names being smaller. 

The total supply of the new ENS token is 100 million, and they were distributed through a community airdrop in 2021.

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What is the ENS DAO?

The ENS DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) is a community-governed organization that oversees the development and management of the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) ecosystem. It is responsible for making decisions about the future direction of the ENS system, including upgrades, changes to policies, and new feature development. The organisation is governed by the ENS token holders, who have the right to vote on proposals and decisions related to the ENS ecosystem.

The organization is an important part of the ENS ecosystem, as it ensures that the system is developed and managed in a decentralized and community-driven manner. It allows stakeholders to have a voice in the decision-making process and ensures that the system remains responsive to the needs of the community.

What is the ENS Foundation?

The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the development and growth of the ENS ecosystem. It oversees the development of the ENS system, promotes its adoption, and provides support to users and developers.

The ENS Foundation is involved in a wide range of activities related to the ENS ecosystem, including organizing community events, providing guidance, and funding the ongoing development of the ENS system. It plays a critical role in supporting the growth and development of the ecosystem alongside the ENS DAO, which is responsible for making decisions about the future direction of the ENS system.

How can I buy ENS tokens?

Tap's mobile app enables users to easily acquire, trade and securely store Ethereum Name Service (ENS) in an integrated wallet. Users can buy and sell the ENS token using a variety of supported crypto or fiat currencies. The app also provides a reliable space to store ENS tokens and other digital assets. By downloading the Tap mobile app, users can unlock the potential of a range of cryptocurrencies and fiat wallets.