Ethereum Name Service
| Developer(s) | Community True Names LTD Nick Johnson |
|---|---|
| Initial release | May 4, 2017 |
| Repository | https://github.com/ensdomains |
| Written in | Solidity |
| Engine | |
| Platform | Ethereum |
| Standard(s) | EIP 137, et al |
| Type | Internet naming |
| License | BSD 2-Clause "Simplified" License |
| Website | ens |
Search Ethereum Name Service on Amazon.
The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is an open source decentralized Internet naming protocol that runs as a set of smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain.[1] Similar to the Domain Name System (DNS), ENS translates computer identifiers into human-readable names with a dot-separated right-to-left hierarchical naming structure.[2][3][4]
ENS was proposed by Nick Johnson on April 4, 2016[5] and launched on May 4, 2017 with the native top-level domain (TLD) .eth.[3][6] Since then, DNS TLDs such as .luxe[7][8], .kred[9][10], and .xyz[3] have been integrated for use on ENS.
Design[edit]
Structure[edit]
ENS has three major smart-contract components: the registry, registrars, and resolvers.[11]
Namespace[edit]
Like DNS, ENS uses a dot-separated right-to-left hierarchical naming structure. ENS launched in May 2017 with the native TLD .eth, which is not in the DNS root zone.[3][6]
Since 2018, ENS has integrated DNS TLDs such as .luxe[8], .kred[9][10], and .xyz.[3]
Uses[edit]
Cryptocurrency wallets[edit]
The most common use of ENS is storing and resolving cryptocurrency addresses. ENS supports the addresses of any arbitrary cryptocurrency or blockchain. This makes it easier for users to send and receive cryptocurrency.[1][12][6]
Decentralized web[edit]
ENS-IPFS websites have native support in Brave, Opera, MetaMask, Status, and others. In browsers without native support for ENS-IPFS websites, users may append ".link" to their .eth website name to visit it via a system called EthDNS. Almonit and Blockscan are search engines for ENS-IPFS websites. As of April 2020, the ENS Manager App added a tool that allows users to upload to IPFS using Temporal Cloud and saves the IPFS hash to their name's Content record.[13]
History[edit]
Early History (2013 - 2018)[edit]
In 2013, Vitalik Buterin listed a decentralized naming system akin to Namecoin among possible applications that could be built on Ethereum in his "Ethereum White Paper."[2][14]
In April 2016, Nick Johnson proposed a specification for the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) in EIP 137.[5] Rather than having its own blockchain or token like Namecoin, it would run as a set of smart-contracts on Ethereum and use the native Ethereum currency ETH for payments.
Johnson, Alex Van de Sande,[12] and others developed the first version of ENS, with a successful launch on May 4, 2017. The date was chosen for its association with Star Wars Day.[2] Only .eth names that were seven characters or longer were made available for registration to limit the cost of a system failure. Names were released via vickrey auctions run on Ethereum, with the winning bid being locked in a smart contract as a deposit that could be returned if the owner released the name.[15] The primary use case for .eth names at this time was replacing Ethereum addresses. The auctions attracted attention, with VICE Motherboard calling it a "gold rush."[6]
2019[edit]
In January 2019, ENS added support for decentralized websites based on the distributed file storage networks IPFS and Swarm.[16]
In May 2019, ENS was upgraded to what was called the Permanent Registrar. This replaced the deposit-and-return model for .eth names with an annual spent fee model, auctions with instant registrations, and made .eth names ERC 721-compliant NFTs,[17] among other things.
In June 2019, the ICANN-accredited registrar EnCirca started offering registrations of .eth names.[18]
In August 2019, ENS added support for Tor .onion addresses.[19]
In September 2019, ENS released three to six character .eth names for registration, holding a two month auction for the initial distribution with the NFT marketplace OpenSea.[20]
2020[edit]
In April 2020, the ENS name "brantly.eth" was used as collateral for a cryptocurrency loan issued by Rocket LP DAO, a DAO specializing in NFT-backed loans, the first time a blockchain-based name had been used in this way.[21]
Criticism[edit]
In February 2020, Decrypt published an article explaining how they were able to trace cryptocurrency wallets with large balances to particular people based on the wallets' association with a person's ENS name.[22] "We found it was possible to identify several high-profile people, even if they weren’t using their real names. We were able to see business deals and watch people’s movements, just using the blockchain," author Tim Copeland wrote.[22] In response, ENS lead developer Nick Johnson said ENS "doesn't attempt to address the privacy issues inherent in public ledgers."[22]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hill, Brenn; Chopra, Samanyu; Valencourt, Paul; Prusty, Narayan (2018-12-21). Blockchain Developer's Guide: Develop smart applications with Blockchain technologies - Ethereum, JavaScript, Hyperledger Fabric, and Corda. Packt Publishing Ltd. p. 214. ISBN 978-1-78995-773-0. Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Antonopoulos, Andreas M.; Ph.D, Gavin Wood (2018-11-13). Mastering Ethereum: Building Smart Contracts and DApps. "O'Reilly Media, Inc.". p. 281. ISBN 978-1-4919-7191-8. Search this book on
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Palladino, Santiago (2019-09-26). Ethereum for Web Developers: Learn to Build Web Applications on top of the Ethereum Blockchain. Apress. p. 267. ISBN 978-1-4842-5278-9. Search this book on
- ↑ R, Manoj P. (2018-08-31). Ethereum Cookbook: Over 100 recipes covering Ethereum-based tokens, games, wallets, smart contracts, protocols, and Dapps. Packt Publishing Ltd. p. 338. ISBN 978-1-78913-794-1. Search this book on
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Johnson, Nick. "EIP 137: Ethereum Domain Name Service - Specification". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "The Gold Rush Is on for Ethereum Domain Names". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- ↑ LLC, Owen Borseth / Porkbun. "porkbun.com | Ethereum Name Service". porkbun.com. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "DNS Inventor Impressed With Innovative Effort Behind .LUXE TLD to Integrate DNS With Blockchain". www.circleid.com. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 ".Kred launches as dual DNS and ENS domain". Domain Name Wire | Domain Name News. 2020-03-06. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Mar 26; Domains, 2020 | (2020-03-27). "What is ENS, and why does it make the .KRED domain so unique?". 101domain Blog. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- ↑ Antonopoulos, Andreas M.; Ph.D, Gavin Wood (2018-11-13). Mastering Ethereum: Building Smart Contracts and DApps. "O'Reilly Media, Inc.". p. 292. ISBN 978-1-4919-7191-8. Search this book on
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Tran, Decrypt / Ki Chong (2020-04-13). "What is the Ethereum Name Service (ENS)?". Decrypt. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- ↑ Behrens, Decrypt / Alexander (2020-04-21). "ENS unveils easier way to build decentralized websites on Ethereum". Decrypt. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- ↑ Buterin, Vitalik. "Ethereum White Paper" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Antonopoulos, Andreas M.; Ph.D, Gavin Wood (2018-11-13). Mastering Ethereum: Building Smart Contracts and DApps. "O'Reilly Media, Inc.". p. 285. ISBN 978-1-4919-7191-8. Search this book on
- ↑ Bambara, Joseph J.; Allen, Paul R.; Iyer, Kedar; Madsen, Rene; Lederer, Solomon; Wuehler, Michael (2018-02-16). Blockchain: A Practical Guide to Developing Business, Law, and Technology Solutions. McGraw Hill Professional. p. 64. ISBN 978-1-260-11586-4. Search this book on
- ↑ "Ethereum Name Service gets upgrade; turning existing domains into non-fungible tokens". The Block. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- ↑ Inc, EnCirca. "EnCirca Accepting Pre-registrations for Blockchain Domain Names". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- ↑ "Ethereum Name Service vows to make Tor browser easier to use". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- ↑ Chacon, Decrypt / Jaime (2019-09-03). "Ethereum Name Service launches auction for shorter, "simpler" blockchain domains". Decrypt. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- ↑ Behrens, Decrypt / Alexander (2020-04-16). "An Ethereum domain name is used as loan collateral for the first time". Decrypt. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Copeland, Decrypt / Tim (2020-02-18). "We tracked 133,000 Ethereum names and exposed their secrets". Decrypt. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
External links[edit]
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