ENS domains: addresses you can recognize

By replacing complex wallet addresses with memorable names, ENS domains improve usability and reduce the risk of mistakes.

The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is a decentralized, open naming system built on the Ethereum blockchain. It simplifies crypto interactions by replacing complex wallet addresses with human-readable names - like “alice.eth” - instead of a long string of characters. Think of it as the blockchain equivalent of saving contacts in your phone.

How ENS works

ENS functions in a similar way to the Domain Name System (DNS) used on the internet. It’s powered by two main smart contracts:

• ENS RegistryStores all ENS domain names, keeping track of ownership and time-to-live (TTL) settings and linking each domain to the contract responsible for resolving it.
• Address mapping contractTranslates human-readable ENS names into wallet addresses, IPFS hashes, websites and more – and vice versa.

Thanks to its decentralized design, ENS is resilient against centralized points of failure, ensuring integrity and transparency for Ethereum-based interactions.

Main benefits of ENS domains

1. Simplified transactions: Replace long, complex wallet addresses with memorable ENS names, drastically reducing the risk of errors during crypto transactions.
2. Linked wallets and websites: An ENS domain can be connected to your crypto wallets, decentralized websites, smart contracts or specific transactions, making Ethereum services easier to use.
3. Tailored subdomains: ENS owners can create subdomains (e.g. email.alice.eth, website.alice.eth) to organize and link different types of data or services. 
4. Ownership and transferability: ENS domains adhere to the ERC-721 standard,  making them unique, ownable and tradeable like NFTs. Owners can sell their ENS names on various marketplaces. 

Do you need an ENS domain?

An ENS domain makes crypto transactions more convenient by replacing long wallet addresses with a simple name. If you interact regularly with Ethereum or other EVM-compatible networks, or want to build a recognizable identity in Web3, an ENS domain can enhance your experience.

Using ENS domains in 1inch Wallet

1inch Wallet fully supports NFT domains, including ENS. This means you can enter an ENS domain name - like alice.eth - instead of a wallet address when sending crypto, making transactions faster and less error-prone. You can also use ENS domains to add wallets to your address book, where they can be saved, edited or reused just like any other contact. Using ENS domains in 1inch Wallet makes your Web3 experience clearer and more convenient.

Getting an ENS domain

To get your own ENS domain, start by visiting the official ENS app. Search for an available name ending in ".eth". After finding a suitable name, select how long you'd like to register it (at least 1 year). Next, connect your Ethereum wallet, ensuring it has enough ETH for registration and transaction fees. Finally, confirm the registration transaction, and once completed, you'll have your personalized ENS domain. You can immediately start using it to simplify your blockchain interactions, enhance your Web3 identity or even trade it as an asset.

Stay tuned for more insights from 1inch as we explore the latest trends in DeFi!