Network
Launch Date
Consensus
Note
Sepolia
Oct 2021
PoW
Like-for-like representation of Ethereum
Görli
Jan 2019
PoA
Proof-of-Authority
Kiln
Mar 2022
PoS
Post-Merge (for ETH2), shadow fork of the mainnet
Kintsugi
Dec 2021
PoS
DEPRECATED, use Kiln; post-Merge (for ETH2)
Ropsten
Nov 2016
PoW
DEPRECATED, use Sepolia; the Merge to happen on Jun 8, 2022
Rinkeby
Apr 2017
PoA
DEPRECATED, use Görli and Görli Faucet
Kovan
Mar 2017
PoA
DEPRECATED, use Sepolia or Görli
List of active and deprecated Ethereum testnets, including Kintsugi.
Features
Optimistic rollup 
ZK-rollup 
Proof
Uses fraud proofs to prove transaction validity. 
Uses validity (zero-knowledge) proofs to prove transaction validity. 
Capital efficiency
Requires waiting through a 1-week delay (dispute period) before withdrawing funds. 
Users can withdraw funds immediately because validity proofs provide incontrovertible evidence of the authenticity of off-chain transactions. 
Data compression
Publishes full transaction data as calldata to Ethereum Mainnet, which increases rollup costs. 
Doesn't need to publish transaction data on Ethereum because ZK-SNARKs and ZK-STARKs already guarantee the accuracy of the rollup state. 
EVM compatibility
Uses a simulation of the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), which allows it to run arbitrary logic and support smart contracts. 
Doesn't widely support EVM computation, although a few EVM-compatible ZK-rollups have appeared. 
Rollup costs
Reduces costs since it publishes minimal data on Ethereum and doesn't have to post proofs for transactions, except in special circumstances. 
Faces higher overhead from costs involved in generating and verifying proofs for every transaction block. ZK proofs require specialized, expensive hardware to create and have high on-chain verification costs. 
Trust assumptions
Doesn't require a trusted setup. 
Requires a trusted setup to work. 
Liveness requirements
Verifiers are needed to keep tabs on the actual rollup state and the one referenced in the state root to detect fraud. 
Users don't need someone to watch the L2 chain to detect fraud. 
Security properties 
Relies on cryptoeconomic incentives to assure users of rollup security. 
Relies on cryptographic guarantees for security. 
Start building
on Alchemy.
Sign up for free
Start building on Optimism.
Sign up for free
Start building on Arbitrum.
Sign up for free
Start building on Ethereum.
Sign up for free
Start building on Polygon.
Sign up for free
Start building on Starknet.
Sign up for free
Start building on Flow.
Sign up for free
kiln faucet
Get free Kiln ETH.
Start building today
Goerli faucet
Get free Goerli ETH.
Start building today
SEPOLIA FAUCET
Get free Sepolia ETH.
Start Building Today
mumbai faucet
Get free Mumbai Matic.
Start building today
rinkeby faucet
Get free Rinkeby
ETH.
Start building today
Start building on Ethereum.
Get started for free
Start building on Ethereum.
Get started for free
Start building on Flow.
Get started for free
Start building on Polygon.
Get started for free
Start building on Starknet.
Get started for free
Start building on Optimism.
Get started for free
Start building on Solana.
Get started for free
Start building on Solana.
Sign up for beta access
Start building on Solana.
Join the waitlist
Arbitrum logo
Start building on Arbitrum.
Get started for free
Learn
Solidity at
Alchemy
University
Get started today
curl 
https://release.solana.com/v1.10.32/solana-install-init-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc.exe 
--output 
C:\solana-install-tmp\solana-install-init.exe 
--create-dirs
NFTs
ENS OVERVIEW

How to Buy an Ethereum Name Service (ENS) Domain

What is the Ethereum Name Service and How to Buy an ENS Domain
Last Updated:
May 11, 2022

What are Ethereum Name Service (ENS) names?

Addresses are a critical component of how we interact with the blockchain since they are the primary means through which transactions are received and transmitted. 

Addresses take the shape of a lengthy string of letters and numbers. As a result, it's all too simple to make costly mistakes, such as sending money to the wrong address. The complexity of addresses also can impact the user experience of decentralized apps, since they frequently have to identify you by this non-memorable string.

There are no other parts of digital technology in which ordinary people are expected to utilize anything like this on a regular basis. 

Human-readable and accessible names typically improve user experience, lower the likelihood of mistakes, and make it simpler to form communities around an identity.

Enter the Ethereum Name Service (ENS)!

Machine-Readable Addresses vs Human-Readable Names

The Ethereum Name Service is a service that allows you to map a human-readable name (ENS name) to your Ethereum wallet address. It makes the notion of blockchain identities much more accessible/friendly, because other individuals (and dApps) can now identify you with a memorable name. 

Simply put, it's a URL for your cryptocurrency or web wallet. It works in the same way as the internet and can help you discover a website quickly. A .eth domain name makes connecting to your web3 wallets and apps easier. 

How do you buy an ENS name?

1. Go to app.ens.domains

2. Click the "Connect" button in the top left corner and select your wallet

3. Search for the .eth ENS name you're looking to purchase

4. If it's available to purchase, pick a time period (in years) to register the name for

5. If you accept the ENS domain cost and gas fees, you can register the domain

6. Sign the first of two transactions to request ENS domain registration

7. Wait 1 minute after the transaction is confirmed to guarantee no one else attempted to register the domain name within the same time period.

8. Sign the second transaction by selecting "Register."

After the second transaction is validated on Ethereum, you will own a .eth domain name and be able to view it in your wallet as a collection available on OpenSea and Rarible.

Ethereum Name Service and The Web3 Experience

ENS is designed for Web3, and its implementation significantly simplifies the whole Web3 experience for organizations and users. Imagine being able to connect with, pay for, and communicate with a business by only knowing its alias. 

Alternatively, from an individual standpoint, consider having a single.eth domain name that serves as your worldwide alias for your online presence, with subdomains referring certain actions: pay.johndoe.eth, connect.johndoe.eth, and hire.johndoe.eth.  

ENS, domain names (or pseudonyms) might become an individual's or entity's primary online ID, expressing the broad diversity of underlying layers available and effectively combining all identities and use cases under a decentralized name.

ALCHEMY SUPERNODE - ETHEREUM NODE API

Scale to any size, without any errors

Alchemy Supernode finally makes it possible to scale blockchain applications without all the headaches. Plus, our legendary support will guide you every step of the way.

Get started for free
Supernode footer
NFTs
ENS OVERVIEW

How to Buy an Ethereum Name Service (ENS) Domain

What is the Ethereum Name Service and How to Buy an ENS Domain
Last Updated:
May 11, 2022
Don't miss an update
Sign up for our newsletter to get alpha, key insights, and killer resources.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Table of Contents

{{building-on-ethereum}}

What are Ethereum Name Service (ENS) names?

Addresses are a critical component of how we interact with the blockchain since they are the primary means through which transactions are received and transmitted. 

Addresses take the shape of a lengthy string of letters and numbers. As a result, it's all too simple to make costly mistakes, such as sending money to the wrong address. The complexity of addresses also can impact the user experience of decentralized apps, since they frequently have to identify you by this non-memorable string.

There are no other parts of digital technology in which ordinary people are expected to utilize anything like this on a regular basis. 

Human-readable and accessible names typically improve user experience, lower the likelihood of mistakes, and make it simpler to form communities around an identity.

Enter the Ethereum Name Service (ENS)!

Machine-Readable Addresses vs Human-Readable Names

The Ethereum Name Service is a service that allows you to map a human-readable name (ENS name) to your Ethereum wallet address. It makes the notion of blockchain identities much more accessible/friendly, because other individuals (and dApps) can now identify you with a memorable name. 

Simply put, it's a URL for your cryptocurrency or web wallet. It works in the same way as the internet and can help you discover a website quickly. A .eth domain name makes connecting to your web3 wallets and apps easier. 

How do you buy an ENS name?

1. Go to app.ens.domains

2. Click the "Connect" button in the top left corner and select your wallet

3. Search for the .eth ENS name you're looking to purchase

4. If it's available to purchase, pick a time period (in years) to register the name for

5. If you accept the ENS domain cost and gas fees, you can register the domain

6. Sign the first of two transactions to request ENS domain registration

7. Wait 1 minute after the transaction is confirmed to guarantee no one else attempted to register the domain name within the same time period.

8. Sign the second transaction by selecting "Register."

After the second transaction is validated on Ethereum, you will own a .eth domain name and be able to view it in your wallet as a collection available on OpenSea and Rarible.

Ethereum Name Service and The Web3 Experience

ENS is designed for Web3, and its implementation significantly simplifies the whole Web3 experience for organizations and users. Imagine being able to connect with, pay for, and communicate with a business by only knowing its alias. 

Alternatively, from an individual standpoint, consider having a single.eth domain name that serves as your worldwide alias for your online presence, with subdomains referring certain actions: pay.johndoe.eth, connect.johndoe.eth, and hire.johndoe.eth.  

ENS, domain names (or pseudonyms) might become an individual's or entity's primary online ID, expressing the broad diversity of underlying layers available and effectively combining all identities and use cases under a decentralized name.

What are Ethereum Name Service (ENS) names?

Addresses are a critical component of how we interact with the blockchain since they are the primary means through which transactions are received and transmitted. 

Addresses take the shape of a lengthy string of letters and numbers. As a result, it's all too simple to make costly mistakes, such as sending money to the wrong address. The complexity of addresses also can impact the user experience of decentralized apps, since they frequently have to identify you by this non-memorable string.

There are no other parts of digital technology in which ordinary people are expected to utilize anything like this on a regular basis. 

Human-readable and accessible names typically improve user experience, lower the likelihood of mistakes, and make it simpler to form communities around an identity.

Enter the Ethereum Name Service (ENS)!

Machine-Readable Addresses vs Human-Readable Names

The Ethereum Name Service is a service that allows you to map a human-readable name (ENS name) to your Ethereum wallet address. It makes the notion of blockchain identities much more accessible/friendly, because other individuals (and dApps) can now identify you with a memorable name. 

Simply put, it's a URL for your cryptocurrency or web wallet. It works in the same way as the internet and can help you discover a website quickly. A .eth domain name makes connecting to your web3 wallets and apps easier. 

How do you buy an ENS name?

1. Go to app.ens.domains

2. Click the "Connect" button in the top left corner and select your wallet

3. Search for the .eth ENS name you're looking to purchase

4. If it's available to purchase, pick a time period (in years) to register the name for

5. If you accept the ENS domain cost and gas fees, you can register the domain

6. Sign the first of two transactions to request ENS domain registration

7. Wait 1 minute after the transaction is confirmed to guarantee no one else attempted to register the domain name within the same time period.

8. Sign the second transaction by selecting "Register."

After the second transaction is validated on Ethereum, you will own a .eth domain name and be able to view it in your wallet as a collection available on OpenSea and Rarible.

Ethereum Name Service and The Web3 Experience

ENS is designed for Web3, and its implementation significantly simplifies the whole Web3 experience for organizations and users. Imagine being able to connect with, pay for, and communicate with a business by only knowing its alias. 

Alternatively, from an individual standpoint, consider having a single.eth domain name that serves as your worldwide alias for your online presence, with subdomains referring certain actions: pay.johndoe.eth, connect.johndoe.eth, and hire.johndoe.eth.  

ENS, domain names (or pseudonyms) might become an individual's or entity's primary online ID, expressing the broad diversity of underlying layers available and effectively combining all identities and use cases under a decentralized name.

Build web3 with Alchemy

Alchemy combines the most powerful web3 developer products and tools with resources, community and legendary support.

 Start building