Get Involved with frENSday! The deadline to apply as a speaker for frENSday is on October 13. Don’t miss this chance to share your industry insights on November 13, 2023, in Istanbul, Türkiye. Additionally, there are opportunities to sponsor the event or volunteer. Apply, grab an Early Bird ticket, or learn more about these opportunities on the frENSday website. You can also delve deeper by reading the ENS blog post about frENSday 2023.
_
📰 Newsletter Roundup (tl;dr)
ENS Labs Update: frENSday, ETHRome, Repo updates
Community Updates: I-CANN-o-worms, 1W3 milestone, 3DNS beta
Meta-Governance: Proposals executed, Pairwise, Code4rena bounty live
Public Goods: ETH Istanbul Public Goods track, Project presentations
Note: A minimum of 100k $ENS is required to submit an executable proposal. Once a proposal gains momentum, the stewards will prioritize it for a vote during the designated voting window. See our Governance Docsfor more information.
Greg Skril from ENS Labs presented their workshop titled “Identity in Your Apps” to a community of builders during last month’s ETHGlobal Hackathon in New York City. The video covers ENS fundamentals, scaling the protocol on L2 like Optimism, and other applications such as Web3 messaging. Watch now. — 09.28.23
—
frENSday Tickets Available Now
Save the date: November 13, 2023. Tickets for frENSday are now available. Set in Istanbul, a city renowned for its cultural richness and rising prominence in crypto adoption, frENSday, initiated by the Ethereum Foundation and led by ENS, aims to foster inclusivity and transformation within the Ethereum, ENS, and broader Web3 communities. Catering to a diverse audience, ranging from seasoned developers to Web3 newcomers, the event offers an array of engaging talks (featuring Vitalik.eth), workshops, and significant announcements. Expecting 1,500-2,000 global attendees, the occasion is more than just a single-day conference. It serves as a precursor to a week’s worth of Ethereum events as part of DevConnect 2023. frENSday features specialized tracks, from challenging innovative norms to exploring digital identity and decentralized organization governance. Apply the code nick.eth at frENSday · Luma for $5 off an early-bird ticket. — 09.29.23
—
ETHRome Re-cap
From the 6th to the 8th October 2023, Rome hosted ETHRome, the inaugural ETHalian Hackathon with a thematic focus on Governance & Privacy. Designed by experienced builders, the event was envisaged as a springboard for innovators in the space. ENS sponsored this event with a 5k bounty to catalyze innovation. During the event, the FluidKEY ENS project was recognized as the standout entry in the Privacy track, winning the category. ENS Labs was actively represented at ETHRome with team members Matoken.eth, Luc.eth, Tanrikulu.eth, and Luc.eth in attendance, highlighting ENS’s commitment to the community and innovation in the crypto space. Notably, Matoken.eth took to the stage to delve into discussions surrounding ENS DAO governance, reinforcing the discourse on decentralized governance mechanisms and their pivotal role in the evolving blockchain narrative. Check out the highlight reel here. — 10.08.23
Commit by Arachnid: An update was made to the document ep4.2-executable-fund-the-endowment-second-tranche.md, which pertains to funding the endowment’s second tranche. Supplementary information can be found here.
Repository: ENS Metadata Service
Commit by Mdtanrikulu: An update titled beautify names with symbols was committed, focusing on enhancing the aesthetics of names with symbols.
Repository: ENS Domains Landing V2
Commit by LeonmanRolls: An update was made to README.md, which likely contains general information or instructions regarding the repository.
Repository: Docs V2
Commit by lucemans: The Github Name file was updated, although the specific nature of the update is not detailed; learn how to contribute here.
The team at eth.limo initiated the development of limo-web3-dns, an avant-garde domain-specific adaptation of the DNS protocol tailored for direct resolution of ENS records. This endeavor aims to enhance traditional DNS functionality by incorporating on-chain ENS domain records, facilitating unmediated resolution through most network-savvy clients. The motivation stems from the ENS leading decentralized edge over Web2 DNS services, coupled with the imminent .eth TLD’s entry into the ICANN domain. Given the contemporary issues like centralization risks by registrar-centric nameserver infrastructures and compatibility challenges between Web2 DNS and ENS content fields, the project emphasizes community operation, native ENS resolution extensions, cryptographic verification, and more. They welcome collaborative contributions to their open-source endeavor, join the discussion. — 10.02.23
In September, 1W3 celebrated a significant milestone as ENS websites developed with 1W3 amassed a remarkable 26,000 pageviews! This achievement underscores the growing impact of decentralized web solutions. A significant part of this success can be attributed to the robust and active community of developers and builders backing the platform. Moreover, 1W3 proudly announced crossing the 1,000-user mark. Additionally, to enhance user experience, the platform has introduced new features, including a convenient ‘pay with PayPal’ option. Congratulations to hidayath.eth and the entire community for these accomplishments! — 10.02.23
—
3DNS: Pioneering Onchain Domain Registration with .box, Bridging Web3 and Web2
The .box service, mentioned by @nick.eth in June 2023, is a new onchain domain registration system bridging Web3 and Web2 through ENS. Currently in closed Beta at http://3dns.box, it’s processing waitlisted domain registrations. Approved registrants are notified via email to initiate domain registration, which then appear on OpenSea. Upcoming features include domain transfer to 3DNS, support for more TLDs, user documentation, and the @boxdomains launch, along with a rebate program for early adopters through a partnership with @OptimismFDN. Notable ENS community members have shown support for this initiative. — 10.04.23
—
Working Group Bulletin
Q3/Q4 Lead Working Group Stewards + Secretary Appointment
Note: view the September financial report, prepared by @Steakousehere.
—
Endowment Updates
The community raised concerns about Karpatkey’s heavy reliance on LIDO’s stETH token in their investment strategies, noting LIDO’s substantial 32.26% stake of all staked ETH. Despite Karpatkey’s current 70%/30% stETH/rETH strategy, they have set an objective for a 20%/50%/30% stETH/rETH/Other LSTs split. They emphasized the risks of moving away from a trusted token like stETH. While there were suggestions to cap or completely divest from stETH, the majority consensus leaned towards a 20% exposure. Karpatkey intends to reduce their LIDO exposure to this level by October’s end and will soon release a detailed plan for community feedback. — 10.03.23
—
DAO Tooling
Pairwise, introduced by @Griff, is a pioneering voting tool designed to simplify complex decision-making processes involving multiple variables, such as selecting from numerous small grant projects. Instead of being overwhelmed by numerous choices, users are presented with a series of “This-or-That” decisions between two projects. After responding to these paired decisions, users receive a proposed ranked list for submission. While still in its prototype stage, ENS is considering incorporating Pairwise in their upcoming small grants round to streamline the voting experience. They would appreciate your support for their small grants initiative. — 10.03.23
—
Code4rena — Mutlidelegate Contract Audit
CodeArena provided a 35K quote to Nick.eth for the audit of the Multidelegate Contract, which covers both an open competition and a mitigation review. During the call, the proposal garnered unanimous approval. The bounty is now live for review. — 10.05.23
Manuel Olariu from DeSpaceQF recently joined a call to discuss their project and their submission for the upcoming Public Goods small grants round, which can be found here. DeSpaceQF is at the forefront of promoting growth and innovation within the Decentralized Space Exploration Ecosystem. By harnessing the potential of Quadratic Funding, their goal is to make resources more accessible to everyone. This approach encourages both newcomers and veterans in the field to play a role in advancing space exploration technologies. — 09.26.23
—
ETH Istanbul Public Goods Track
@Simona will be a judge at ETH Istanbul and is considering ways to include public goods in the event. She is also helping to set up a public goods segment for frENSday, which will showcase panels, discussions, and more. There’s a plan to share stories from small grant recipients and participants. Additionally, there’s an idea to offer live mini grants during the event. — 10.03.23
EFP is a decentralized system, crafted to empower Ethereum account holders to manage curated lists of other Ethereum accounts. This offers a spectrum of applications, from creating a web3 social structure native to the Ethereum community, establishing a web of trust, collating lists of reliable smart contracts vital for dapps, enabling onchain follow trading, to various other functionalities. Brantly highlights a vision of Ethereum evolving with a web3 identity framework. Components of this framework include SIWE, ENS, NFT profile pictures, and more. However, a noticeable gap is the absence of a mechanism to establish relationships between accounts. Unlike prevalent protocols that strive to monopolize the identity stack, EFP aims to complement protocols like ENS, enhancing their functionality. — 10.03.23
—
Quadratic Funding on Giveth | Presented by Lauren Luz & Jacob Schumacher
Giveth is a transparent, non-tiered global movement that leverages modern technologies to support projects with a social, environmental, or humanistic impact.
In collaboration with the Public Goods working group, Giveth is delving into the potential of an ENS matching pool. This initiative would match donations to enlisted projects for a specific round, ensuring the funds reach projects that genuinely resonate with the community’s aspirations. — 10.03.23
Note: The ENS Ecosystem Working Group offers rolling grants, and applicants can apply anytime. The evaluation process takes around four weeks, and unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply in the future.
Alex recently provided an update on the Resolv3r project, which was initially built at ETHPrague. This project is focused on creating ENS records on L2 to address the prohibitive transaction costs associated with L1. Resolv3r incorporates the use of their CCIP-Resolver for general data retrieval and the ENS Bedrock Resolver for the specific task of retrieving and verifying on-chain data. As the project evolves, there are plans to integrate additional chains and expand its functionalities. Furthermore, Resolv3r operates as an open-source initiative and benefits from public goods funding. — 09.28.23
NameGuard is an upcoming project by the Namehash team. Set to launch in late October, NameGuard is an open-source infrastructure designed to bolster the security of ENS. This initiative, as detailed in their small grants submission titled "NameGuard - Security “X-ray”, aims to shield users from concealed threats in ENS names, specifically addressing concerns like inbound message or transaction impersonation and deceptive activities on platforms such as OpenSea. To achieve its objectives, NameGuard will offer a comprehensive suite, including a library, API, typescript client, UI kit, and web app, dedicated to identifying vulnerabilities across various analytical layers, ranging from name structures to specific code points. Lightwalker encourages inquiries and is open to potential integrations to amplify the platform’s security protocols. — 10.05.23
“The goal for NameGuard is to help protect the ENS community from hidden risks or limitations in ENS names, such as impersonation attacks in web3 social messengers, fake “ENS” NFTs on OpenSea, confusables that still pass ens_normalize on marketplaces such as http://ens.vision, and more.” — Lightwalker.eth
OnThis specializes in creating shortcuts for seamless contract interactions through simple ETH transactions. Such functionalities can be seen in tasks like NFT mints or staking on LIDO. At the ETHGlobal NY Hackathon, OnThis showcased their innovation with a shortcut for 10xbull.eth. By merely sending ETH to this address, a trade is activated on GMX, an options project on Arbitrum, directly from the mainnet. Recognizing its potential to simplify intent into action, ENS awarded OnThis with a prize for the best use case. — 10.05.23
Domainer Expo is an educational and innovative conference, scheduled for December 6-7, that covers a range of domains in both Web2 and Web3. Ishmilly is actively participating in the event, particularly urging those interested in ENS domains to attend. — 10.05.23
The new repository evmgateway is now available on GitHub, offering possibly a new gateway interface for the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) within the ENS domain ecosystem.
Note: A minimum of 100k $ENS is required to submit an executable proposal. Once a proposal gains momentum, the stewards will prioritize it for a vote during the designated voting window. See ourGovernance Docsfor more information.
—
ENS Labs Updates
ENS Names Powers IRC’s Rescue Aid Response in Libya
In the wake of Storm Daniel, Libya faces a catastrophic humanitarian situation with over 3,000 lives lost, whole neighborhoods washed away, and over 34,000 people displaced. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is actively working to offer healthcare and protection to those affected in this challenging situation. ENS Labs has partnered with IRC, demonstrating a real-world use case on how cryptocurrency paired with ENS names can benefit humanitarian efforts, making the donation process faster and more straightforward to meet immediate needs effectively. Through blockchain technology, ENS Labs and IRC show how digital tools can be pivotal in crises. The global community can support IRC’s work in Libya by promptly donating cryptocurrency at rescueorg.eth. — 09.13.23
—
ENS Labs Announces frENSday Conference at Devconnect
On Monday, November 13, the vibrant city of Istanbul will host the inaugural frENSday ENS conference at the Istanbul Congress Center (ICEC), in tandem with DevConnect 2023. This special event is designed to strengthen collaboration in the Ethereum ecosystem, highlighting the successes of the Ethereum Name Service and its frENS. It emphasizes the importance of key ecosystem partnerships and stands as a tribute to visionaries bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3. (There’s chatter about big names like Vitalik.eth gracing the stage, too.) To learn more about how to participate and/or partnership opportunities, enthusiasts can visit frensday.ens.domains. — 09.18.23
—
Recap: ENS Labs presenting at DappConn
GnosisDAO organized DappCon, a global developer conference for Ethereum Dapps and Infrastructure, held at the radialsystem in Berlin. Since its inception, Gnosis has consistently hosted DappCon, making it an essential event for developers and blockchain professionals. The conference serves as a networking platform and a venue for updating attendees on Ethereum’s latest trends. Berlin is recognized as a significant hub of innovation in the Ethereumverse, underscoring DappCon’s prominence. A standout feature of the conference was the evident presence and involvement of ENS, with presentations such as the one by Tanrikulu.eth on the CCIP callbackFunction, which detailed the retrieval of off-chain data from a Gateway URL. Watch a highlight reel here. — 09.12.23
—
Recap: ETHGlobal New York City
ETHGlobal New York saw a remarkable turnout, hosting 1400 attendees from 49 countries, including 950 hackers, with a striking 33% being introduced to the web3 world. ENS Labs made a significant mark at the event. Representatives such as gregskril.eth, matoken.eth, and Ξsk3nder.eth graced the occasion, with gregskril.eth spearheading a detailed workshop at the @ETHGlobalny hackathon, elaborating on the expansive potential of ENS and the transformative impact it could have on the web3 ecosystem. The event’s culmination was marked by the distribution of a $10,000 prize pool to innovative projects. — 09.24.23
ENS Labs warmly welcomed@184.eth as their new Support Lead. An esteemed member of the community and a moderator for the ENS Discord, 184.eth’s profound understanding of the protocol stands as a significant asset to both the team and the broader community. With a deep passion for the decentralized protocol’s potential, he is eager to further support the crypto community in this exciting new capacity. — 09.12.23
—
ENS at ETHMilan
ETHMilan is set to take place through October 5-6. The conference has announced Tanrikulu.eth, a core ENS developer, as their latest speaker to address the infrastructure track. Interested participants can secure their spot by visiting http://ethmilan.xyz. — 09.20.23
—
⭐️ ENS Guide
ENS allows users to associate avatars with their ENS names, enhancing personalization. These avatars can be a straightforward picture or can be represented using other NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). To set an avatar, users should visit the ENS Manager App, connecting with the designated wallet for their ENS name. After selecting the intended ENS name and accessing profile settings, a camera icon provides a submenu for avatar settings. Users can either upload an image directly from their computer or choose an NFT from their wallet. After cropping, signing, and uploading the image, it’s crucial to save and confirm the changes, then proceed to sign a blockchain transaction to finalize the update. Once completed, the avatar becomes visible on the ENS name page. It can be viewed on platforms like the ENS Manager App and Uniswap, while OpenSea showcases it differently. For a detailed walkthrough and troubleshooting, visit ENS’s support page. — 09.15.23
In a recent blog post, NameStone, a B2B company specializing in providing gasless ENS subnames, provided a comprehensive overview of the ENS. They acknowledged that understanding ENS can be challenging for crypto newcomers. At its core, ENS is like a “web3 version” of the traditional Domain Name System (DNS), converting lengthy Ethereum addresses into easily recognizable names ending in “.eth”. These names aren’t just domains but are considered entire social identities, thanks to the data they can store. Operating as ERC721 NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), ENS names offer various advantages, from decentralized ownership to enhanced user experiences in decentralized applications. A notable feature is the ability to have offchain ENS subdomains, which are cost-effective and offer immense potential for both personal and business applications. Those interested in the broader potential of ENS can learn more through NameStone’s blog. — 09.14.23
—
NameSys Updates
NameSys announced the launch of its v1.1. Including new features like the inclusion of an array of new records such as Address (ETH), Address (BTC), Avatar, Contenthash, and several others. Users can opt for a custom HTTP Gateway for records storage, which facilitates faster resolution. NameSys provides its own HTTP Gateway, enabling users to save on gas expenses by migrating the Resolver through a single transaction. Stealth Payments, allow encrypted interactions between two users via their unique RSA (2048 BITS) public key records (ie. Bob can issue an encrypted invoice to Alice, who can decrypt and fulfill the invoice). According to their update when juxtaposed with UmbraCash, NameSys’s method is 99% more economical and assures heightened privacy by eliminating on-chain logs. The team conveyed their gratitude to the ENS DAO for their unwavering support through the Ecosystem Grant and welcomed any questions or comments from the community. — 09.11.23
—
Encode Club: Hackathon Summary
The Future of Blockchain University Hackathon, an event that brought together a dynamic community of university students and researchers to innovate in the realm of blockchain, had ENS as one of its esteemed sponsors. This four-week online hackathon, which began with a spirited launch event on 31st July, was enriched with technical workshops, among which “Integrating ENS: Identity in Your Apps” and “Scaling ENS: Offchain and L2 Names with CCIP Read” stood out. These sessions underscored the significant role ENS played in guiding participants to understand the potential of Ethereum Name Service integrations. In addition to providing mentorship and educational insights, ENS further championed innovation by offering bounties, with awards going to exceptional projects like Avalon as the “Best Project Using ENS as Usernames”, and Loyo, which earned accolades for the “Most Interesting Use of ENS”. Such initiatives by ENS not only amplified the hackathon’s impact but also exemplified its commitment to nurturing the next generation of blockchain innovators. — 09.15.23
—
1W3.eth: ENS Records API
1W3 recently unveiled their newest OS project on GitHub: the ENS Domains records API. This project presents a straightforward Node.js application that functions as a JSON API, utilizing the ENSjs library. Users can easily retrieve ENS records in JSON format by simply inputting the ENS name into the URL. The enthusiasm surrounding the launch underscores the potential utility and convenience of this tool for developers and users alike. — 09.20.23
—
Chrome Extension: ENS Domains on Basescan
Backseats.eth, the team behind Contract Reader, a platform that offers an intuitive method for auditing smart contracts, has developed a Chrome extension that enhances the user experience on Basescan. This extension identifies Mainnet ENS addresses and seamlessly integrates them onto both Transaction and Address pages of Basescan. It achieves this by looking up the address or the from field on Mainnet, checking for an associated ENS address, and then overlaying the same ENS badge from Etherscan onto Basescan. Recognizing the security implications of Chrome extensions given their ability to inject code, backseats.eth has made the extension open source, ensuring transparency and allowing users to verify its safety. This innovation is just another example of their commitment to enhancing the Ethereum ecosystem, as evidenced by their core offering, ContractReader.io, which supports Base and is touted as the optimal solution for comprehending smart contracts. — 09.19.23
—
All-In Summit Recap: Brian Armstrong Discusses ENS
At the All-In Summit, a gathering orchestrated by industry titans and avid poker enthusiasts Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacks, and David Friedberg, a notable discussion transpired ENS. The Summit is a melting pot where economic, tech, political, and social themes blend with the playful spirit of poker. Jason Calacanis posed a direct question to Brian Armstrong, the CEO of Coinbase, prompting him to shed light on ENS. Armstrong explained, “ENS is the Ethereum Name System. It’s a decentralized identity, so you can control your own information online.” This brief yet potent snippet offers a glimpse into the broader conversation about decentralized identities and the revolutionary potential of ENS domains. The mention by such a heavyweight in the cryptocurrency space underscores the growing importance and recognition of decentralized online identities. Watch the clip here. — 09.21.23
—
ETHGlobal New York: ENS Happy Hour
At Pearl Alley, a scenic spot boasting captivating river views and a selection of light bites accompanied by spirits, “frENS” convened to discuss the ever-evolving world of ENS. Such events are instrumental in transitioning the bonds formed in the digital realm to tangible, real-life connections. The atmosphere at the ETHGlobal New York ENS event was palpably vibrant, drawing gratitude from many attendees. Organizational credit goes to the DAO secretary and event manager, @limes.eth, whose meticulous planning ensured the event’s success. As a token of appreciation, attendees were endowed with a unique NFT, a creation by the talented Axek Designs (available for commission), renowned for their exceptional POAP designs for the DAO. Those interested can view this exclusive NFT via the provided link, and Axek’s impressive portfolio can be explored on Behance. — 09.23.23
In response to the challenges of a centralized internet where user data is often commodified and content longevity is uncertain, “write.link” has launched a pioneering decentralized blogging platform, seeking to empower writers in the digital age. Accessible via its website and promoted on its X account, the platform is deeply integrated with ENS domains, showcasing its commitment to the decentralized web while also allowing writers to receive payments directly through these domains. Additionally, write.link boasts a suite of tools tailored to contemporary writers: from customizable SEO options and diverse blog templates to integrated analytics and social media sharing features. The platform even embraces community engagement with decentralized chat systems. To further enhance its offerings, write.link has made a grant request aimed at advancing their platform through robust research and development, including refining its editor, AI features, and ensuring scalability. Read more on the forum. —09.15.23
—
Community Discussion: Pairwise Voting
In recent observations of DAO voting mechanisms, @Zeptimushas pointed out that conviction voting within ENS Small Grants has shown potential inefficiencies in fund allocation. They’ve introduced Pairwise Voting—an innovative mechanism aiming to streamline decisions and bolster participation. Designed akin to a Tinder-style interface, voters are presented with a choice between two projects, simplifying the otherwise daunting process of choosing from numerous proposals. This ensures all projects get a fair shot, sidestepping the common issue of voters gravitating towards familiar options. Using an ELO system, proposals are ranked based on voters’ preferences. Once rankings are established, there’s a provision to revise votes, adding a personal touch to the process, a feature in the pipeline for Optimism. For ENS Small Grants, Pairwise can redefine fund allocation. It could endorse rank choice voting, with the top projects earning ETH. Alternatively, if a project wins a vote against another, it secures a percentage of the total grant, ensuring a fair distribution based on collective preference. @Nick.eth has indicated their interest in having the DAO experiment with this method, too. — 09.13.23
—
Community Proposal: ENS on Swarm
In a recent proposal titled “ENS on Swarm”, @costgallo introduced an off-chain solution for the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) on the P2P storage network, Swarm. The approach addresses challenges like high operational fees and service availability by proposing a decentralized off-chain resolver for name resolution. The system uses “Identity Addressing” via the Single Owner Chunk (SOC) from Swarm, enabling users to securely address and upload data based on their Ethereum address. By allowing records to be uploaded and versioned off-chain, it provides a faster, cost-effective alternative to the existing on-chain process. Furthermore, the proposal suggests possible data structures for streamlined subdomain handling and emphasizes the need for JavaScript developers familiar with ENS and Swarm for implementation. This new paradigm promises a more efficient, trustworthy, and decentralized name resolution system. — 09.15.23
—
Working Group Bulletin
Q3/Q4 Lead Working Group Stewards + Secretary Appointment
Appointments:
Meta Governance - @katherine.eth
ENS Ecosystem - @slobo.eth
Public Goods - @coltron.eth
DAO Secretary - @limes
The responsibilities of the Lead Stewards & Secretary are set out in Rule 9.8 and Rule 9.9 of the Working Group Rules.
ENS DAO Working Group Schedule (Q3/Q4 2023):
⚖️ Meta-Governance @ 3PM UTC Tuesday — Google Meet
Proposals under discussion in the governance forum are set for a vote on September 28th. Notably, executable proposals have a voting duration of seven days, while social ones last five days. This structured voting timeframe was initiated based on delegate feedback aimed at simplifying voting periods, thereby making it less demanding for delegates. The Meta-Governance team is overseeing the scheduling of these votes. Some proposals are yet to be finalized, with updates anticipated as the month closes.
Additionally, there’s a potential social proposal concerning a vulnerability wherein a malevolent DAO update might decrease the registration term of .eth 2LDs. The outcome of this social vote will gauge the community’s stance on proposed contractual changes meant to address this issue. This voting approach is based on past feedback, and the organizers continue to invite more suggestions and opinions for improvement. — 09.20.23
—
Meta-Governance Seeks to Establish Own Proposal Submission Method
The Meta-Governance Working Group (MetaGov WG) is actively addressing its existing reliance on nick.eth for proposal submissions by considering more autonomous methods. Discussions have centered on allocating specific tokens for this purpose, with a suggestion for the MetaGov pod to receive 100k $ENS Governance tokens directed to a dedicated multisig. Further deliberations included the potential adoption of a governor module upgrade for staking and the implications of the Working Group acting as a ‘delegate’. Additionally, the anticipated multidelegate contract might offer innovative solutions for proposal management. These ongoing discussions underscore the group’s commitment to enhancing its governance processes. — 09.20.23
—
Note: view the August Endowment report, prepared by @karpatkeyhere.
The ENS DAO Public Goods Working Group has continued their focus on Zero-Knowledge (ZK) methods and the P256 implementation. Their interest in this area is fueled by a collective aim to understand and facilitate improved blockchain scalability and privacy.
@Coltron.eth, recently participated in the “funding the commons” event. He returned with insights, having engaged with multiple projects at the forefront of this domain.
Here’s a brief overview of some of the notable projects and platforms he discussed:
Privacy + Scaling Explorations: One platform that particularly caught the group’s attention was pse.dev. This platform is deeply engaged in researching methods to enhance both the privacy and scalability of blockchain technologies. By combining these two focus areas, they aim to bring about a revolution in how blockchain technologies are perceived and utilized.
noseedphrases.xyz: Another intriguing project highlighted by Coltron. While the specifics of its function and purpose remain a topic of exploration, it is evident that it holds potential significance in the context of public goods and blockchain advancement.
ZK WebAuthn: This is a fascinating initiative that’s employing Zero-Knowledge proofs in the authentication space. Given the ubiquitous nature of web authentication processes today, integrating ZK methods can drastically bolster security and privacy for users.
A significant reference that the working group is currently studying is a paper published by Ledger. This paper illuminates the potential of a decrease in gas costs for p256 signature verification. Such a reduction can pave the way for more efficient and economical blockchain operations.
Furthermore, there is a growing buzz around “Speeding up elliptic computations for Ethereum Account Abstraction.” This topic, although technically dense, holds the potential to redefine how computations on the Ethereum blockchain are handled, making them more efficient and faster. — 09.12.23
Note: The ENS Ecosystem Working Group offers rolling grants, and applicants can apply anytime. The evaluation process takes around four weeks, and unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply in the future.
—
Project Highlights: Kiwi News
Last week, Kiwi News, a groundbreaking web3 alternative to the tech-centric platform, Hackernews, was unveiled by its creators, Tim Daub and Mac Budkowski. Unlike traditional news websites, Kiwi News integrates pioneering features like ‘Sign in with Ethereum’ for user login and incorporates ENS for streamlined account data management. An intriguing aspect of the site was the leaderboard that spotlighted profiles with the highest number of upvoted posts. The platform’s foundation rests on an open, decentralized peer-to-peer protocol, a feature elaborated in their Protocol Guide. With its promising attributes, Kiwi News has set its sights on the upcoming Small Grants round, soliciting the community’s support and votes. Moreover, the community had a golden opportunity to delve deeper into the project’s nuances as the team presented at the Protocol Berg event in Berlin on September 15, 2023. — 09.14.23
—
Streamlining Queries
@Limes is in the process of launching a new email address dedicated to ENS domain inquiries. This move aims to streamline communication and ensure that all ENS-related queries are addressed promptly and efficiently. To ensure organization and proper delegation, the email account will be under the supervision of the Secretary. They will be responsible for sifting through incoming questions and redirecting them to the relevant parties for resolution. This initiative highlights the Ecosystem Working Group’s commitment to enhancing user experience and improving accessibility for its audience. — 09.21.23
Based on delegate feedback, the Meta-Governance working group will move to consolidate proposals into a voting period — to be scheduled at the end of each month. For more information, please review @5pence.eth thread on streamlining the voting process.
Furthermore, anyone with a minimum of 100k $ENS can submit an executable proposal on Snapshot at any time. If a proposal gains momentum in the governance forum the stewards will prioritize it for a vote during the designated voting window.
Thank you for your ongoing engagement and active participation in our governance process.
For details on the ENS DAO proposal process see ourGovernance Docs.
—
ENS Labs Updates
⚠️ CAUTION:
There has recently been an emergence of phishing websites targeting the ENS community. Please be aware that @ensdomains and @ENS_DAO are the sole official social accounts affiliated with ENS. Any other accounts purporting to be ENS or affiliated with it are counterfeit. Your safety is paramount, exercise vigilance!
Core Team Transitions
Khori.eth announced a series of team updates for ENS Labs, including new leadership roles and departures. @Leon is now the head of engineering, @Marta is in charge of business development, @Sadaf.eth leads marketing as well as other areas, and @Esk3nder.eth has joined to oversee product and strategy. Core developers Nick, Jeff, and Makoto remain on the team. New additions include @Evanmoyer.eth as community manager and @Ms.Avery as operations associate. Alisha.eth and Vincent (aka Zadok7.eth) have stepped down from the core team, although both have made significant contributions to governance and community engagement.
As ENS Labs moves towards decentralization, Khori.eth noted that the organization will become progressively less involved in the daily operations of ENS DAO, encouraging the community to take a more active role in its leadership. — 09.05.23
—
Crypto Cornerstore @ ETHGlobal NYC
ENS and XMTP have teamed up to offer a tech-savvy experience at this month’s ETHGlobal hackathon in NYC. This partnership extends XMTP’s previous collaboration with Coinbase Wallet at ETH Paris, where users could conveniently order items through ENS and pay with USDC in chats, all without incurring gas fees.
Developers can order a wide range of items, both physical (e.g., Red Bull, pizza, toothpaste) and digital (including Base and Polygon testnet ETH, Lens NFTs, exclusive POAPs, and more), without the need for additional identity or payment information to prevent fraud or misuse. XMTP’s cryptographic signature ensures the authenticity of both the sender and receiver in the chat. This innovative secure wallet messaging system has versatile applications, including the elimination of credit card fees for small international purchases, streamlining in-chat orders and payments. — 09.07.23
—
ENS Development
Integration: dAppling x ENS
The dApplingNetwork has recently introduced support for Ethereum Name Service (ENS) names, streamlining the process of linking your ENS name to your website. The user-friendly feature allows for a quick transition from a GitHub repository to an operational ENS site in just three minutes. Once the app is deployed, users can simply input their ENS name and click “add.” They then select the “set contenthash” option, which initiates a transaction on the ENS contract, setting the contenthash field to their project’s IPNS name. Although this step requires a gas fee, future updates to the site are automatic and gas-free. Any code merged into the main branch will be immediately reflected on the ENS site, ensuring it always showcases the most recent changes. — 08.30.23
—
Tooling: ___.tryENS.eth
Mailchain’s new free tool, ___.tryENS.eth , allows instant creation of temporary ENS names without Ethereum gas fees. Ideal for events like hackathons, these domain names auto-expire after 48 hours but can be re-registered. The tool is versatile, facilitating easy sharing of Ethereum addresses and enabling user-friendly names for workshops and dApp testing. To get started, visit the website and follow the simple steps to claim your name. — 09.05.23
Jefflau.eth is advocating for a progressively decentralized approach to user identity management on ENS. He suggests initially onboarding users with a zero-cost username through EIP-3668 and ENS wildcard to provide a seamless user experience. This strategy is exemplified by farcaster’s fname system, which lets users create a subname that is controlled by a farcaster server, avoiding the need for an on-chain transaction. Users can later switch to their own ENS names or mint their usernames on Layer 2. The goal is to offer a full range of options that ease user onboarding while preserving decentralization and user sovereignty. All of this would be built upon the ENS infrastructure. — 09.08.23
—
EIP-3668: Cross Chain Interoperability Protocol
Tanrikuli.eth discussed EIP-3668, at DappConn in Berlin. The protocol significantly enhances ENS by providing a unified identity across multiple blockchains. Utilizing CCIP, users can register a domain on a ‘home’ blockchain, which is then automatically propagated to other supported chains. In a hypothetical example, two core smart contracts could be deployed on the home blockchain. These contracts would use CCIP to update other blockchains when a new domain is registered, maintaining a global domain registry. Consequently, all ENS instances across different blockchains stay synchronized, enabling universal name-to-address lookups. Through CCIP, users could have a single, unified identity across the entire Ethereum ecosystem, eliminating the need for multiple registrations or less secure alternatives. — 09.12.23
—
Matoken.eth at YAP Global offsite
During YAP Global’s offsite in France, the team hosted Makoto, where they discussed the “how,” “why,” and history of Ethereum, providing a holistic perspective of the ecosystem. Read the review of Makoto’s talk at YAP Global. — 09.04.23
—
Working Group Bulletin
Q3/Q4 Lead Working Group Stewards + Secretary Appointment
@Karpatkey delivered the weekly update. The endowment, valued at 28 million dollars, has nearly 100% capital utilization. Their August report is delayed due to a minor bug, but is expected soon. Plans for the second tranche of the endowment are underway, with a vote scheduled for the September DAO Voting Window. Initially fully invested in Lido, the endowment aims to diversify, targeting a short-term 70:30 composition and a long-term 50/30/20 distribution across various pools. — 09.05.23
—
Organizational Updates
@Khori.eth outlined significant core team changes and delved into the organization’s financial status. Leadership transitions included Leon taking over as head of engineering, Sadaf leading in-house marketing and overseeing support and events, Marta stepping into the role of business development, and Eskender leading product and strategy. The team welcomed Evan as the new community manager and Avery as a full-time operations associate while acknowledging the departures of Alisha.eth and Vincent, also known as Zadok7.eth.
Financially, ENS Labs receives an annualized stream of approximately $4.1 million from its governing DAO, with 65% allocated for development compensation. The organization faced higher-than-anticipated legal fees, particularly in efforts to secure the eth.link domain. Due to the sensitive and ongoing nature of these legal matters, limited information could be disclosed. ENS Labs is also exploring insurance options, including director insurance, to manage future legal needs and confirmed that its bookkeeping is on course for the 2023 report, due in June 2024. — 09.05.23
Discussion on how to support builders developing core Ethereum upgrades are underway. After EIP-7212 Pull Request was successfully merged into Ethereum’s GitHub repository, the primary point of debate has become whether to use a verification method or a recovery interface for its implementation. Core Ethereum developers recommend initially implementing the new EIP in Layer 2 solutions before rolling it out on mainnet.@avsa has stated that this could represent a significant advancement for the Ethereum ecosystem. Beyond financial support, he noted that assistance for the Request for Proposals (RFP) could also extend to mentorship and help in navigating the political and social hurdles of securing EIP approval.
More information can be found within the discussion thread. The authors behind EIP-7212 are Ethylene Studio, and additional discussions on this topic can be found at the Ethereum Magicians Forum under the section dedicated to EIP-7212 for secp256r1 Curve Support. Further insights can also be gleaned from Alex Van de Sande’s tweet, which was posted after the most recent discussion call. — 08.29.23
Note: The ENS Ecosystem Working Group offers rolling grants, and applicants can apply anytime. The evaluation process takes around four weeks, and unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply in the future.
—
Core Updates
Core developers are in the midst of rolling out a significant update to the ownership management feature in their Manager app, with the launch expected in the upcoming weeks. Alongside this, contracts have been successfully deployed on Sepolia, and there is a planned transition to the latest public testnets by September 15th. In a strategic move to improve their testing capabilities, ENS Labs has switched its end-to-end testing framework from Cypress to Playwright.
To accelerate project deployments, the team has introduced a Web 3 starter kit that is built on Next.js and made publicly available on GitHub for community review and use. Ethereum (ETH) has been set as the default payment method for financial transactions during the registration phase. Furthermore, the company has implemented a range of bug fixes and system improvements to elevate the overall performance and user experience. — 09.07.23
—
Unruggable Names
Unruggable Names presented advancements in their project aimed at facilitating more affordable and accessible ENS subname registrations via Layer 2 (L2) solutions, such as Optimism. The technical features highlighted included the implementation of ERC4337, utilization of NameWrapper, and the ETH Reg controller. During a live demo, the team demonstrated how subnames can be registered and configured on Layer 2. Thomas also introduced an ‘ENS Whois’ tool available on ethtools.com for easy viewing of these newly created subnames.
The project aims to make ENS names central to the creation of smart accounts in the future by integrating ENS name registration directly into the smart account creation process. This would streamline user experience by offering a one-click, potentially gasless process. Other technical aspects like cross-chain gateways, L2 compatibility, and rollups were discussed. Additional information and demonstrations can be found on their website optimism-demo.unruggablenames.com and the project’s GitHub repository at GitHub - unruggable-labs/L2-ens. — 09.07.23
3DNS.box announced the company’s objective to integrate existing web domains onto blockchain technology. They aim to provide a seamless user experience to attract traditional domain customers and are also working on specialized solutions for bulk domain management. The operation will feature a dual-system, where an off-chain registrar becomes read-only once a domain has been migrated on-chain. 3DNS.box is addressing challenges related to allowing multiple wallets to manage domains and is working on custom implementations, such as with Gnosis Safe. A beta version is set to launch next week, with existing domains expected to be transferable on-chain shortly after the rollout. — 09.07.23
—
Grant: 1W3
Note: The Ecosystem Working Group offers Term 4 Grants to fund projects that contribute to the ENS ecosystem. Applications are accepted continuously via the DeForm platform. The evaluation period is approximately four weeks, and those not awarded can reapply later.
1W3, a decentralized web platform, has secured a $10,000 USDC grant from the Ecosystem Working Group to advance its work in the ENS ecosystem. Designed as a censorship-resistant alternative to linktree, the platform enables users to build a digital hub for their creations. The grant will support innovations in ENS name use and adoption. Key features include a community-driven “link in bio” builder and IPNS integration for gas-free updates, essentially making 1W3 a decentralized CMS for ENS. The platform automates the linking of the latest IPFS CID to ENS names, simplifying the user experience. 1W3 also allows ENS domain owners to designate “managers” to build and link websites on their behalf. It has also made setting resolvers for ENS names more user-friendly. — 09.02.23
