Imagine if Twitter didn't allow its users to customize their handles.
Our entire feed would look like "user12837473".
That's how crypto feels like right now.
@ensdomains is drastically improving the crypto UX by providing web3 handles.
Let me explain how👇
Our entire feed would look like "user12837473".
That's how crypto feels like right now.
@ensdomains is drastically improving the crypto UX by providing web3 handles.
Let me explain how👇
1/ Before we even get into ENS, let's talk about Domain Name Server (DNS).
DNS has been a functional component of the internet since the mid 80s.
It was created as a solution for a friendlier Internet UX.
DNS has been a functional component of the internet since the mid 80s.
It was created as a solution for a friendlier Internet UX.
2/ Think of DNS as the phonebook of the internet.
When you enter a website name in your browser, the human readable name is being translated to the machine readable ip-address.
(Image by Kinsta)
When you enter a website name in your browser, the human readable name is being translated to the machine readable ip-address.
(Image by Kinsta)
3/ During the dotcom boom, the US government took official control of the DNS from the team at USC that was running it.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers was created in 1998 to serve as the formal organization coordinating the internet.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers was created in 1998 to serve as the formal organization coordinating the internet.
4/ ICANN ensures the network is stable and secure.
They accredit registries (corporations, governments) to take control over top level domains (TLD).
These registries are responsible for database admin and DNS operations.
For example, Verisign controls the .com TLD.
They accredit registries (corporations, governments) to take control over top level domains (TLD).
These registries are responsible for database admin and DNS operations.
For example, Verisign controls the .com TLD.
5/ ICANN also reserves certain TLDs such as country abbreviations (.UK) and international organizations (Olympics).
In 2015, the US gave up its control over ICANN. It is now run by a variety of stakeholders.
That's the DNS today.
In 2015, the US gave up its control over ICANN. It is now run by a variety of stakeholders.
That's the DNS today.
6/ The problem is that DNS is still centralized and controlled by a few people (ICANN, registries).
It also doesn't serve web3 identifiers such as wallet addresses, content hashes, and metadata.
That's where Ethereum Name Service (ENS) comes in.
It also doesn't serve web3 identifiers such as wallet addresses, content hashes, and metadata.
That's where Ethereum Name Service (ENS) comes in.
7/ At a high level, ENS is the DNS for crypto addresses and hashes.
However, there are a couple of themes that make ENS such an awesome project.
The first theme is that ENS is decentralized.
However, there are a couple of themes that make ENS such an awesome project.
The first theme is that ENS is decentralized.
8/ ENS runs on the ethereum blockchain and its main contract is visible to anyone.
The ENS registry is a smart contract that runs on the Ethereum blockchain.
The registry holds data for all domains and subdomains.
The ENS registry is a smart contract that runs on the Ethereum blockchain.
The registry holds data for all domains and subdomains.
9/ The resolver is what actually ends up giving you the address based on a hash.
Hashes are used to prevent spamming and for storage optimization.
Hashes are used to prevent spamming and for storage optimization.
10/ This kind of open naming system is a huge step to a completely decentralized internet.
It's miles better than having data locked up in centralized servers that could go down or be tampered with.
It's miles better than having data locked up in centralized servers that could go down or be tampered with.
https://twitter.com/iamDCinvestor/status/1182634727800487936
11/ The second theme is the general crypto compatibility.
ENS is named after Ethereum because it runs on the ethereum blockchain - not because it only supports eth wallets.
You can send btc, dogecoin, NFTs etc. using ENS as well.
ENS is named after Ethereum because it runs on the ethereum blockchain - not because it only supports eth wallets.
You can send btc, dogecoin, NFTs etc. using ENS as well.
12/ The third theme is the idea of a global internet username.
You will use your ENS name to connect to dapps.
The ENS name will be usable cross platform and act as your digital identity.
You will use your ENS name to connect to dapps.
The ENS name will be usable cross platform and act as your digital identity.
13/ No need to create a username and password for every application and silo yourself.
They are weak and hard to manage.
They are weak and hard to manage.
https://twitter.com/santiagoroel/status/1448806755069222912
14/ ENS also provides a reserve resolver for dapps to use. This allows dapps to look up if you have a ENS name based on your wallet.
This feature provides a cleaner UI - display an ENS name instead of a long crypto address.
ENS is looking to get web2 apps onboarded as well.
This feature provides a cleaner UI - display an ENS name instead of a long crypto address.
ENS is looking to get web2 apps onboarded as well.
15/ The fourth theme is the easy ENS-DNS integration.
ENS wants to introduce crypto to the global internet community in a respectful way.
The internet needs ICANN for the near future so it makes sense to first just focus on extending the current DNS functionality to crypto.
ENS wants to introduce crypto to the global internet community in a respectful way.
The internet needs ICANN for the near future so it makes sense to first just focus on extending the current DNS functionality to crypto.
16/ ENS allows you to import your DNS names as well. Meaning your website and wallet have the same name.
ENS will not be making any new TLDs (other than the .eth one they use that started as a test).
ENS + ICANN = peaceful integration of crypto to today's Internet.
ENS will not be making any new TLDs (other than the .eth one they use that started as a test).
ENS + ICANN = peaceful integration of crypto to today's Internet.
17/ The fifth theme is the ability to launch decentralized websites with ENS.
Decentralized websites are hosted on distributed file sharing networks.
The generated hash that points to the website is stored in the ENS records.
This is a key funnel for people to use IPFS.
Decentralized websites are hosted on distributed file sharing networks.
The generated hash that points to the website is stored in the ENS records.
This is a key funnel for people to use IPFS.
18/ There is a price tag to the ENS names.
A subscription model is necessary so that it is financially unreasonable for people to name squat.
The renewal process also helps recover forgotten names.
The funds go back to ENS for maintainability and upgrades.
A subscription model is necessary so that it is financially unreasonable for people to name squat.
The renewal process also helps recover forgotten names.
The funds go back to ENS for maintainability and upgrades.
19/ Getting an ENS name is the first thing you should do after you make a crypto wallet.
Crypto is daunting to most people because the keys look long and complicated.
Attaching names to wallets is going to help bring web3 mainstream.
Crypto is daunting to most people because the keys look long and complicated.
Attaching names to wallets is going to help bring web3 mainstream.
https://twitter.com/BrantlyMillegan/status/1429860756284231685
20/ DNS made websites simple to access and connect.
ENS is making crypto wallets and web3 easy to use.
The ENS team is doing an incredible job and it seems like the direction they are headed in with the product is solid.
ENS is making crypto wallets and web3 easy to use.
The ENS team is doing an incredible job and it seems like the direction they are headed in with the product is solid.
https://twitter.com/jmj/status/1440743285136392196
21/ I believe ENS will truly go mainstream when influential people outside of crypto start "flexing" their .eth handles.
It'll create that same feeling when people found out Terry Crews and Elon Musk joined Clubhouse.
It'll create that same feeling when people found out Terry Crews and Elon Musk joined Clubhouse.
https://twitter.com/StephenCurry30/status/1435047716950667264
22/ Also, for ENS names to get popular, products and institutions will need to buy their ENS names as well (i.e. Cocacola.eth or apple.eth).
23/ p.s. now you can set an NFT you own as your ENS avatar!
https://twitter.com/carrot_init/status/1446601206223179777
24/ Note: The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) documentation is incredible.
The director of ops @BrantlyMillegan has fantastic threads and medium articles covering everything ENS related.
The director of ops @BrantlyMillegan has fantastic threads and medium articles covering everything ENS related.
25/ Summary of what was covered about @ensdomains.
- Friendly integration with ICANN
- DNS for crypto addresses, hashes, etc.
- Decentralized naming service
- Decentralized Websites with ENS
- DNS & ENS integration
- Need bigger names to buy their handles
- Friendly integration with ICANN
- DNS for crypto addresses, hashes, etc.
- Decentralized naming service
- Decentralized Websites with ENS
- DNS & ENS integration
- Need bigger names to buy their handles
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