Human-Readable Names

Human-readable names are short, memorable labels that stand in for long blockchain addresses, in the same way that website names stand in for numerical internet addresses. Instead of copying a 42-character string such as an Ethereum address, a user can send funds to a name like "alice.eth", and the wallet looks up the matching wallet address in an on-chain registry. The best-known system is the Ethereum Name Service, and other networks have similar services. Names can also point to profiles, websites and addresses on several chains. They reduce copying mistakes and make payments feel more familiar, and some are traded as digital assets, a market sometimes called DomainFi. Risks include lookalike names registered by scammers, names that expire and are re-registered by someone else, and the tactic described under address poisoning, so users should check the resolved address before sending large sums.