How to Register an ENS Name for Your Wallet Address

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As blockchain technology becomes more integrated into everyday life — from payments and gaming to digital art and social platforms — the need for user-friendly tools has never been greater. One of the biggest hurdles in mainstream crypto adoption is the complexity of wallet addresses: long, alphanumeric strings like 0x6405A46E53680Eae9cC68228ec3a459c3CEDD972 that are difficult to remember and easy to mistype.

Imagine having to share your IP address instead of a website URL, or tagging someone on social media using their internal user ID. It’s impractical — and that’s where the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) comes in.

ENS simplifies how we interact with blockchain by letting you register a human-readable name (like yourname.eth) that links directly to your Ethereum wallet address. This not only makes sending and receiving crypto easier but also enhances your digital identity across decentralized applications (dApps).

Why ENS Names Matter

An ENS name acts as your personal username on the decentralized web. Once registered, it serves multiple functions:

ENS names are built as NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain, meaning they’re unique, ownable, and tradable on marketplaces like OpenSea — much like domain names on Web2 platforms such as GoDaddy.

👉 Secure your digital identity today with a personalized ENS name

What You’ll Need to Register an ENS Name

Before diving into registration, ensure you have the following:

⚠️ Always double-check wallet addresses before transferring funds. Transactions on blockchain are irreversible.

Step-by-Step Guide to Registering Your ENS Name

Step 1: Connect Your Wallet

  1. Go to app.ens.domains.
  2. Click “Connect” in the top-right corner.
  3. Choose your wallet provider. If it’s not listed, select WalletConnect.
  4. Scan the QR code using your mobile wallet (e.g., Rainbow: go to Discover → tap QR icon).
  5. Approve the connection request in your wallet app.

Once connected, you’re ready to search for available names.

Step 2: Search and Select Your ENS Name

  1. Type your desired name (e.g., alice) into the search bar.
  2. Choose the .eth extension.
  3. Select how many years you’d like to register it for.

The app will show:

💡 Pro Tip: Gas fees fluctuate. For lower costs, try registering during off-peak hours (UTC nights).

In one example, the estimated total was $30.97, but the final cost came out to $25 after confirmation — slight variations are normal due to real-time gas pricing.

👉 Maximize your Web3 presence with a memorable ENS domain

Step 3: Initiate Two-Step Registration

ENS uses a two-transaction process to prevent front-running (where others抢register names after seeing your transaction):

Transaction 1: Request to Register

After signing, wait for blockchain confirmation. Most wallets let you:

You must wait one minute after confirmation before proceeding — this prevents name squatting during high-demand periods.

Step 4: Complete Registration

After the waiting period:

  1. Return to the ENS app.
  2. Click “Register”.

  3. Sign a second transaction that includes:

    • The annual registration fee
    • Another gas fee

Once confirmed, your ENS name is officially yours! It will appear in your wallet as an NFT collectible under “Tokens” or “NFTs”.

Step 5: Set Your Reverse Record

This crucial step ensures dApps recognize and display your ENS name instead of your wallet address.

  1. In the ENS app, click “My Account” on the left sidebar.
  2. Select your newly registered .eth name.
  3. Toggle on “Set as primary ENS name” or manually set the reverse record.
  4. Sign one final transaction.

Now, when you connect your wallet to platforms like Showtime, Mirror, or OpenSea, they’ll show yourname.eth instead of 0x....

You can also:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is my ENS name mine forever?

No — ENS names are rented annually. You must renew before expiration or risk losing it. Auto-renewal is available through some wallets.

Q: Can I sell my ENS name?

Yes! Since ENS names are NFTs (ERC-721), you can list them on NFT marketplaces like OpenSea or LooksRare.

Q: Do I need ETH in my wallet to receive funds via ENS?

Yes — while others can send crypto using your .eth name, you still need ETH in your wallet to cover gas fees when receiving certain tokens or interacting with smart contracts.

Q: Can I use my ENS name outside Ethereum?

Yes! Many multi-chain wallets support ENS across networks like Polygon, Arbitrum, and Optimism — though the name itself lives on Ethereum.

Q: What happens if I lose access to my wallet?

Since ENS is decentralized, there’s no recovery option. If you lose your private keys or seed phrase, you lose access to both your wallet and your ENS name.

Q: Are short ENS names worth the high price?

Three- and four-letter .eth names are premium assets often used for branding or investment. They’re scarce and increasingly valuable in Web3 identity ecosystems.

Final Thoughts

Registering an ENS name is one of the simplest yet most powerful steps you can take toward building a lasting identity in Web3. It transforms complex cryptography into something personal and recognizable — turning 0x... into you.eth.

Whether you're receiving payments, launching a project, or just claiming your digital footprint, an ENS name adds professionalism, security, and convenience.

👉 Start building your decentralized identity now

By combining usability with blockchain ownership, ENS bridges the gap between early adopters and mass adoption — making the future of the internet not just secure, but human-friendly.