By Abdul Salam Ibrahim
Why Many Crypto Users Have the ‘.eth’ Suffix on their Twitter Profiles.
If you’re on the crypto side of Twitter, it is not
unusual to see many users with the ‘.eth’ suffix. Supposing you’re a curious
mind like me, you’d probably ask: What’s with the suffix? Why has everyone
caught, or why is everyone catching the flu? This article simplifies what you
need to know about the .eth suffix and why it is such a big deal.
To start with,
Knowing the difference between Ethereum and ETH
You’re probably familiar with ETH being a short form
for ether, but beyond that, there is a bigger picture. Ethereum is a
decentralized global software platform powered by blockchain technology. As a
decentralized platform, Ethereum has a native cryptocurrency token known as
ether or ETH.
Designed to be secure, scalable, and programmable,
anyone can use the Ethereum platform to create a secured digital technology.
Many Blockchain-based projects are built on the Ethereum platform. Ethereum’s
native token, ether, after bitcoin, is currently the second largest cryptocurrency
by market value.
However, as opposed to bitcoin, which was designed
strictly as a payment method, Ethereum was founded with a bigger mission —
leveraging blockchain technology for diverse applications. Ethereum users store
their ether using a wallet. Every wallet has an address, 42-string
alpha-numeric characters, similar to an email address. The wallet is where all ether
sent to an Ethereum user goes.
Now, what’s with the .eth suffix?
It is referred to as the Ethereum Name Service
(ENS). A decentralized domain naming service for blockchain users. ENS names
are saved on the Ethereum blockchain and can be easily linked to cryptocurrency
addresses, Web3 platforms, and personal information.
Just like a .com or .net domain name help you locate
a website quickly, the .eth domain name allows you easily send cryptocurrencies
to crypto users and link your wallets and apps across web3 platforms.
Remember that your wallet address is a long string
of alphanumeric characters? You’re not expected to memorize and recall them
anytime you need them. So, when someone asks about your wallet address, it is pretty
easy to tell them abdulsalam.eth or chinedu.eth instead of reciting the whole string
of characters.
The craziest part about the characters is that
you’ll send cryptocurrency to a different address if you get any of the
alphabet or numbers wrong.
So, when next you see any profile on Twitter with
the .eth suffix, know they’ve personalized their address using the Ethereum
Name Service (ENS).
Note: Not everyone with the .eth suffix on Twitter
has their domain on the ENS. Some are just using it because others are using
it.
How do you get an .eth personalized domain?
To get a personalized ENS, visit the ENS domains website
at https://ens.domains/.
Once you’re on the website, you probably will be
confused about the next few steps. Worry not. This YouTube video guide
simplifies how you can buy your ENS domain.
Things to note before getting your .eth domain
You will be asked to connect your cryptocurrency
wallets, such as Metamask or CoinBase Wallet.
Load your cryptocurrency account with enough funds.
The cost of the ENS domain is relatively cheap. However, the cost of the gas
fee varies.
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