Decentralized DNS Showdown: ArNS vs ENS

Crypto has never been known for being user-friendly, but times are changing.

Today, it’s becoming more common to pay for everyday items with cryptocurrencies, especially through Visa cards pegged to tokens, and it’s easy to send cryptocurrencies overseas by simply knowing the recipient’s phone number.

Despite this, user experience remains one of the biggest challenges for widespread adoption of mainstream cryptocurrencies.

Dealing with long and complex blockchain addresses and transaction IDs is confusing and error-prone. Fortunately, ArNS (Arweave Name System, running on the AR.IO Permanent Cloud Network) and ENS (Ethereum Name System, based on the Ethereum network) are working to solve this problem. They are like easy-to-use phone books for blockchains, making cryptocurrency more friendly and convenient for ordinary people.

Why is my wallet address so long?

Cryptocurrency wallet addresses are designed to be extremely unique, typically 25 to 93 characters long. This high degree of uniqueness means that there are more possible Bitcoin wallet addresses than there are grains of sand on Earth.

For Arweave and Ethereum, there are the same 🤯 possible addresses. ArNS and ENS solve this problem by replacing these long and complicated blockchain identifiers with human-readable names. Think of it as a domain name system for crypto. Here’s how it works:

• When sending tokens, you no longer have to use an address like 0xd8da6bf26964af9d7eed9e03e53415d37aa96045 . Instead, you can use the simpler vitalik.eth , which greatly simplifies transactions and reduces errors.
• Provide friendly URLs for decentralized websites, for example, you can visit vilenarios.ar.io or your-name.any-AR.IO-gateway without having to remember complex hashes.
• They are not limited to wallet addresses, but can be used for any transaction ID, making everything easier to use.
• If you are already familiar with an Ethereum wallet, you can use it directly to purchase ArNS names, seamlessly connecting the two ecosystems and simplifying the usage process.

While both ArNS and ENS are very powerful, there are significant differences between the two. ENS is the most well-known, while ArNS is a relatively new entrant.

ENS: The OG of the decentralized domain name system

Built on Ethereum, ENS is a pioneer in decentralized naming.

ENS started with crypto wallet identities and later expanded to website addresses, providing an important alternative to the traditional Domain Name System (DNS).

By providing human-readable identities, ENS not only makes cryptocurrency transactions easier, but also promotes the development of the decentralized web.

Early ENS achievements

• Widely used : Many wallets and decentralized applications (dApps) already support ENS. Currently, it has more than 1.9 million active domain names and nearly 900,000 unique user addresses.
• Strong Community : ENS has a large community governed by an active DAO.
• Good infrastructure : It is very easy to get started with ENS.

Cost of ENS

Setting up an ENS domain involves the following fees:

1. Annual registration fee : Fees vary depending on the length of the name.
2. Gas fee : You need to pay ETH Gas fee when registering, and renewal and update also require additional Gas.
3. Ongoing costs for content storage : Using IPFS to store content may require paying for “pinning” fees.

The cost structure of ENS includes:

• Annual Lease Fee : ENS names are subject to annual renewal.
• Gas fee : related to the Ethereum network.
• Content storage fees : IPFS may require ongoing storage support.

While ENS may be a relatively economical option for longer domain names, the total cost may increase after adding gas and other fees. It should be noted that ENS names must be renewed annually, and users cannot actually own the names, but can only rent them.

Continuous but not permanent

ENS names can be considered persistent, but are not completely permanent like data on the Arweave network (including ArNS).

• Persistent Transaction Record : The Ethereum blockchain is designed to record transactions persistently, which is highly durable and tamper-resistant.
• No permanence guarantee : Although blockchain data on Ethereum is highly resilient, it is not designed for permanence. For example, Vitalik’s proposed Ethereum “Purge” plan may selectively delete some historical account information and transaction details.
• Potential Data Deletion : Since data is stored on a decentralized blockchain like Filecoin/IPFS, it may lead to eventual data removal or modification.

Access ENS content

ENS content requires a compatible browser (such as Brave) or extension to resolve the ".eth" name. ENS redirects users to the IPFS gateway URL, which means that users access the gateway instead of the direct name.eth. This reliance on a fixed gateway limits the accessibility and flexibility of the content.

• Third-party gateways: What is the centralization problem with ENS? ENS relies on third-party gateways (such as Infura) to resolve ".eth" domain names, which brings the following challenges:

1. Service consistency : The quality of gateway services varies, affecting user experience.
2. Availability risk : If the gateway goes down, access to related sites will be interrupted.
3. Discovery issues : Users may need to manually find the gateway URL or enter the gateway, adding complexity.
4. Coordination requirements : As more websites adopt ENS, gateway traffic may increase. Without coordinated network planning, performance will be affected.

ENS lacks a dedicated gateway network, hindering seamless access and expansion.

ArNS: An emerging naming system

ArNS is a newer blockchain domain name system launched after ENS, but it solves some of the problems left by ENS. While both are committed to mass adoption, ArNS offers unique advantages:

1. Broader Usage : ArNS is natively designed for content addressing and identification.
2. Permanence : With Arweave, name records and their content are permanently stored without worrying about chain breaks or data loss. ArNS supports the “Permanent Web,” a permanent internet where content is never lost.
3. Primary Name : Have a unique and memorable name that works seamlessly across your entire ecosystem of apps, websites, and services.
4. Perpetual Purchase Option : ArNS offers a one-time perpetual purchase option with no renewal fees.
5. Built-in Gateway Network : AR.IO network ensures that permanent web content is always available and websites load quickly and reliably.
6. Utility Tokens and Rewards : IO Tokens are used to purchase names and reward gateway operators to help grow the network.
7. Dynamic Pricing : ArNS pricing is based on market demand and is adjusted flexibly.

Six major differences between ArNS and ENS

1. Designed for the long term : ArNS offers names that can be purchased in perpetuity, while ENS is limited to annual leases.
2. Decentralized gateway network : ArNS relies on the AR.IO decentralized gateway network, while ENS relies on third-party gateways.
3. Flexibility of top-level domains (TLDs) : ArNS can span multiple TLDs, while ENS’s “.eth” has potential conflicts.
4. Pricing mechanism : ArNS uses dynamic pricing, while ENS has a fixed price.
5. Token application : ArNS uses IO tokens as a transaction and reward mechanism, while ENS fees belong to the Ethereum registry.
6. Building a permanent network : ArNS is committed to building a data storage Internet where links never fail.

Summarize

ENS has become a mature decentralized naming system with its first-mover advantage and support from the Ethereum ecosystem, but ArNS' focus on permanence, a decentralized gateway network, and user-friendliness provides users with a compelling alternative.

ArNS is being adopted by more and more decentralized applications, personal websites, and permanent network identities.

If you want to try ArNS, now is a good time, grab your name!