Crypto glossary
Blockchain domain name
A blockchain domain is a readable name such as alice.eth or bob.sol, registered as a token, that points to wallet addresses, profiles or websites.
Blockchain domains replace long hexadecimal addresses with human-friendly names. They are registered on a blockchain, usually as NFTs, through naming services such as ENS for .eth, Solana Name Service for .sol or Unstoppable Domains for endings like .crypto. The owner sets records that map the name to wallet addresses on several chains, a profile picture, social handles or a website hosted on decentralized storage. Wallets that support the service resolve the name before sending funds.
Names make payments less error-prone and serve as a portable web3 identity across apps, which is why many users display them as their username. They can also be traded, so short or brand-like names have sold for significant sums.
Most browsers cannot open these domains without an extension or gateway, and support varies between wallets. Some names require annual renewal and can be lost if it lapses. Squatting on brand names, look-alike domains used in scams and conflicts between services that issue the same ending are recurring problems.
Example
Instead of copying a 42-character address, a user sends USDC to maria.eth; her wallet resolves the name to her Ethereum address and shows her profile picture before confirming.