Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is a decentralized naming protocol built on the Ethereum blockchain that allows users to replace long, complex Ethereum addresses with human-readable names (e.g., alice.eth). Launched in 2017, ENS simplifies cryptocurrency transactions, smart contract interactions, and decentralized web access by providing a user-friendly naming layer.

ENS names are NFTs, meaning they are ownable, transferable, and tradable on-chain. Beyond wallet addresses, ENS supports integration with websites, IPFS content, and other crypto assets, effectively acting as a decentralized domain name system (DNS) for Web3. Its governance is managed via the ENS DAO, with the ENS token used for voting on protocol upgrades and policy decisions.