Have you just won an auction for a short .eth domain? Have you held a domain since ENS was first launched in 2017? Or perhaps you recently used the instant registration feature in the official Manager? Maybe you even claimed a free subdomain from a wallet, MEW, or ENS Now?
If so, you’ve probably wondered: what can I actually do with this domain?
Creating and selling domains isn’t particularly hard—which is why it’s even more important to act responsibly. But building genuinely useful features and achieving ecosystem adoption is another matter entirely. Among decentralized naming services, ENS is the clear leader.
This article details practical use cases for ENS users. The following examples aren’t just future goals—they are fully functional features available today.
One Domain for All Your Cryptocurrency Addresses
ENS was originally designed to assign human-readable names to Ethereum addresses. Over the past two years, it has been integrated into numerous wallets and dapps.
With the growing variety of cryptocurrencies, ENS has introduced multi-coin support on the mainnet. This significantly expands address compatibility, allowing users to store addresses for any cryptocurrency within their ENS records. In simple terms, this means you can receive any cryptocurrency using just one ENS name.
The D’CENT Wallet was the first to integrate this feature, and now more wallets are following suit.
You can use the ENS Manager to add cryptocurrency addresses to your domain’s records.
This feature solidifies ENS’s position as the most widely adopted decentralized naming service for cryptocurrency wallets. If you’re looking for a blockchain-based domain name with broad ecosystem support, registering an ENS domain is a great option.
👉 Get started with your own ENS domain today
Hosting Decentralized Websites
ENS has partnered with Protocol Labs, the team behind IPFS—a decentralized file storage protocol. While ENS provides decentralized domain naming, IPFS offers decentralized file storage. Together, they form the foundation of a decentralized web.
Opera provides native support for this pairing (and Brave has announced it’s working on integration). If you use other mainstream browsers, the MetaMask browser extension also enables support. For example, if you use Chrome with MetaMask, simply type “almonit.eth/” into the URL bar and watch the magic happen.
For browsers that don’t support Ethereum, we’ve built a system that allows access by appending “.link” to the domain (e.g., almonit.eth.link).
Interested in creating your own decentralized website? We’ve got a guide for that.
Supporting Tor .onion Websites
The Tor community has long struggled with how to obtain human-readable .onion addresses without compromising security. ENS is a decentralized naming service that addresses Zooko’s Triangle, making it a useful tool that balances human-readability, security, and decentralization.
You can add a Tor .onion address to your ENS record in the content field. If you’re using the Tor browser with MetaMask enabled, simply type the .eth domain into the URL bar, and it will resolve to the .onion site.
To demonstrate this functionality, we set up ten ENS names that point to popular .onion websites. Since security is likely a top priority for Tor users, we’ve also published an in-depth discussion on the security trade-offs involved.
Using Text Records
Our text records feature allows you to voluntarily add various types of personal information to your ENS record.
Currently, we support eight types of text records: email, URL, avatar, description, notice, keywords, Twitter username, and GitHub username.
We eventually plan to support arbitrary text record types, but in the meantime, we’re excited to see how the community uses these initial options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ENS domain?
An ENS domain is a human-readable name that points to cryptocurrency addresses, decentralized websites, and other resources. It simplifies transactions and improves user experience across the blockchain ecosystem.
How do I register an ENS domain?
You can register an ENS domain through the official ENS Manager or supported wallets. The process involves choosing a name, completing registration, and configuring your records.
Can I use ENS with any cryptocurrency?
Yes. ENS supports multi-coin addresses, meaning one domain can receive Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many other cryptocurrencies.
Is it possible to host a website on ENS?
Absolutely. By integrating with IPFS, ENS allows you to host decentralized websites accessible through compatible browsers or via .eth.link gateways.
Are ENS domains secure?
ENS operates on the Ethereum blockchain, leveraging its security and decentralization. However, users should follow best practices for key management and record configuration.
What are text records used for?
Text records store metadata like contact details and social profiles directly on the blockchain, enabling verifiable and decentralized identity management.
Conclusion
The functionalities described above are just the beginning. We are continuously developing new features and expanding use cases, so stay tuned for more innovations from ENS.
ENS is an open-source project managed by a non-profit organization. We view it as a public good and a fundamental piece of internet infrastructure that can serve not only the blockchain community but the entire internet. That’s why we highly value feedback and participation from the community.
If you have feature requests or feedback, join our forum or Gitter channel. You can also submit pull requests on GitHub.
Ready to explore the possibilities? 👉 Register your own ENS domain now and start using decentralized naming today.