# What is ENS? Names, addresses and the resolver between them ENS, the Ethereum Name Service, maps human-readable names to records such as cryptocurrency addresses. A registry identifies name control and the resolver responsible for records; the resolver supplies the requested information. An ENS name is a label for destinations and data, not the wallet itself, and owning a name does not establish a verified real-world identity. Evidence: [ENS terminology](https://docs.ens.domains/terminology/); [ENS address lookup](https://docs.ens.domains/web/resolution/); [Expired ENS names and wallet access](https://support.ens.domains/en/articles/12311858-do-expired-ens-names-affect-wallet-access) Canonical: https://degreesofsatoshi.com/encyclopedia/what-is-ens/ Published: 2026-10-02 Substantively modified: 2026-10-02 Independently verified by an automated reviewer: 2026-10-02T19:27:58.939Z Data current through: 2026-10-02 AI-assisted research and drafting with a separate automated source-verification pass; no external expert or named human review is implied. ## Key facts - **Registry:** The registry records a name’s owner, resolver and cache hint. ([ENS terminology](https://docs.ens.domains/terminology/)) - **Resolver:** A resolver supplies records such as payment addresses. ([ENS terminology](https://docs.ens.domains/terminology/)) - **Wallet access:** Losing a name does not change the associated account’s private key. ([Expired ENS names and wallet access](https://support.ens.domains/en/articles/12311858-do-expired-ens-names-affect-wallet-access)) ## Translate a name into the right record A wallet resolving an ENS name asks for a particular address record. ENS supports more than an Ethereum payment address: different coin or chain records can point to different destinations. The application must request the record appropriate to its intended payment. The person controlling the name’s records can change its destination. A name saved months ago should not be treated as a permanently fixed account address. Evidence: [ENS address lookup](https://docs.ens.domains/web/resolution/); [ENS terminology](https://docs.ens.domains/terminology/) ## One label can point to different chain destinations Imagine a name with one address for Ethereum mainnet and a different address for another supported chain. A wallet sending on that second chain needs its corresponding record. Resolving the mainnet record and changing the network afterwards is not the same operation. Confirm the resolved address before sending. Name lookup supplies routing information; it does not move existing funds or bridge an asset. Evidence: [ENS address lookup](https://docs.ens.domains/web/resolution/) ## Names and account ownership are separate A .eth registration can expire or transfer while the old associated wallet continues to function. Whoever controls the account’s keys still controls that account’s assets under its account rules. Name registration and renewal rules depend on the registrar and version. The ENSv1 .eth registrar is only one naming context; imported DNS names and project-issued subnames can have other lifecycles. Evidence: [Expired ENS names and wallet access](https://support.ens.domains/en/articles/12311858-do-expired-ens-names-affect-wallet-access); [ENS ETH registrar](https://docs.ens.domains/registry/eth/) ## Questions ### Does buying an ENS name create an Ethereum wallet? No. A name can point to an account address, but naming and account key management are separate systems. Evidence: [ENS terminology](https://docs.ens.domains/terminology/); [Expired ENS names and wallet access](https://support.ens.domains/en/articles/12311858-do-expired-ens-names-affect-wallet-access) ### Does a recognizable ENS name prove who owns the account? It proves neither a legal identity nor an endorsement. Verify the intended person or organization through an appropriate independent channel. Evidence: [ENS terminology](https://docs.ens.domains/terminology/); [ENS name processing](https://docs.ens.domains/resolution/names/) ## Claims and scope ### what-is-ens-quick-answer ENS, the Ethereum Name Service, maps human-readable names to records such as cryptocurrency addresses. A registry identifies name control and the resolver responsible for records; the resolver supplies the requested information. An ENS name is a label for destinations and data, not the wallet itself, and owning a name does not establish a verified real-world identity. Scope: {"collection":"ethereum","dataAsOf":"2026-10-02","blockHeight":null} ### what-is-ens-fact-registry Registry: The registry records a name’s owner, resolver and cache hint. Scope: {"collection":"ethereum","dataAsOf":"2026-10-02","blockHeight":null} ### what-is-ens-fact-resolver Resolver: A resolver supplies records such as payment addresses. Scope: {"collection":"ethereum","dataAsOf":"2026-10-02","blockHeight":null} ### what-is-ens-fact-wallet-access Wallet access: Losing a name does not change the associated account’s private key. Scope: {"collection":"ethereum","dataAsOf":"2026-10-02","blockHeight":null} ## Sources - [ENS terminology](https://docs.ens.domains/terminology/) — ENS Labs. Roles in ENS naming, resolution and management. Locator: Owner; controller; resolver; registrant. Retrieved: 2026-10-02T18:55:25.181Z. - [ENS address lookup](https://docs.ens.domains/web/resolution/) — ENS Labs. Resolve the requested coin or chain address rather than assuming all records are one payment destination. Locator: Resolving addresses; multicoin lookup. Retrieved: 2026-10-02T18:55:25.398Z. - [Expired ENS names and wallet access](https://support.ens.domains/en/articles/12311858-do-expired-ens-names-affect-wallet-access) — ENS Labs. Name expiry affects name use rather than cryptographic ownership of the associated account. Locator: Expiry; grace period; wallet access. Retrieved: 2026-10-02T18:55:25.397Z. - [ENS ETH registrar](https://docs.ens.domains/registry/eth/) — ENS Labs. ENSv1 .eth registration and renewal procedure; not an assertion that ENSv2 uses the same pricing or grace period. Locator: Registering a name; commit-reveal; renewals. Retrieved: 2026-10-02T18:55:25.210Z. - [ENS name processing](https://docs.ens.domains/resolution/names/) — ENS Labs. Normalization establishes consistent valid names, not identity authentication. Locator: Normalization; ENSIP-15; namehash. Retrieved: 2026-10-02T18:55:25.506Z. ## Revision history - 2026-10-02: First publication after primary-source research and separate automated verification. ## Cite this entry Degrees of Satoshi editorial project. “What is ENS? Names, addresses and the resolver between them.” Published 2026-10-02; updated 2026-10-02. https://degreesofsatoshi.com/encyclopedia/what-is-ens/