The Domain Name System (DNS) of the traditional Internet relies on centralized servers to resolve the "domain name-IP" mapping, which has problems such as single point of failure, easy censorship, and data tampering risks. Decentralized Name Service (DNS) reconstructs the domain name system through blockchain technology, deploying domain name ownership, resolution rules, and addressing processes in a distributed network, achieving "domain name is digital identity, and addressing does not require intermediaries". How does this innovative technology break through traditional limitations? And how will it reshape the way the digital world is connected?
Core concept: blockchain reconstructs domain name service logic
Decentralized DNS is a blockchain-based distributed naming system that converts domain names into on-chain verifiable Unique Device Identifiers, replacing the centralized database of traditional DNS. Its core features include:
- Decentralized ownership : Domain names are confirmed through NFTs (non-fungible tokens), ownership is recorded on the blockchain, and users manage it independently through private keys. For example, the Ethereum Domain Name Service (ENS) allows the registration of ".eth" domain names, and ownership data is permanently stored on the Ethereum chain without the need for review by institutions such as ICANN.
- Anti-censorship resolution mechanism : Domain names are directly mapped to blockchain addresses (such as wallets and smart contracts), and the resolution process is completed by distributed nodes. Even if some nodes are attacked, the consensus algorithm can still ensure the availability of services and resist censorship from a technical perspective.
- Multi-chain compatible addressing : supports binding multiple blockchain addresses, a domain name can be associated with ETH, BTC, SOL and other wallets at the same time, realizing "one domain name management of multiple chain assets".
Technically, decentralized DNS manages the registration process (such as domain name auctions and renewal rules) through smart contracts, uses distributed hash tables (DHT) to store resolution records, and ensures that the "domain name-address" mapping is tamper-proof and searchable across the entire network.
Technical Architecture: Building a Distributed Addressing Network with a Three-Layer System
Technology Implementation of Decentralized DNS takes "registration-storage-resolution" as the core to build a deep integration architecture of blockchain and domain name services.
- Smart contract-driven registration : Users submit registration requests through smart contracts, and the contract automatically detects domain name availability (such as ENS's available () function) and locks the registration period (usually starting from 1 year). The registration fee is paid in native tokens (such as ENS using ETH), and the fee income is used for network maintenance.
- NFTized ownership certificate : Each domain name corresponds to a unique NFT token, which can be traded on platforms such as OpenSea. For example, the domain name "vitalik.eth" was auctioned at a high price as an NFT, reflecting the digital asset attributes of the domain name.
- On-chain core data certification : the domain name corresponding to the public key, metadata hash and other key information on the chain storage, ENS will parse the data into the Ethereum smart contract, through the resolve () function query mapping relationship;
- Off-chain metadata lightweight storage : Complex content (such as website data pointed to by domain name) is stored in distributed systems such as IPFS, and only the hash value is recorded on the chain, realizing an efficient architecture of "on-chain rights confirmation + off-chain storage";
- Decentralized resolution network : independent nodes run resolution programs (such as ENS Resolvers), users initiate queries to the node network through API calls (such as web3.eth.ens.getAddress () ), and distributed nodes cooperate to return the target address.
Application Scenario: From Identity Identification to Value Entry
- When users perform cross-chain transfers on compliance platforms such as HashKey Exchange , they do not need to enter complex long addresses. They can directly use domain names such as ".eth" and ".sol" to complete asset transfers, reducing the operation threshold by 80%.
- Decentralized applications (DApps) can be directly accessed through domain names, such as "pancakeswap.eth", which automatically points to the corresponding smart contract, improving User Experience and ecosystem connectivity efficiency.
- Distributed social media (such as Steemit) uses decentralized domain names as User Identification to avoid identity loss caused by centralized server bans and build a censorship-resistant information dissemination network.
- Digital content creators bind the copyright of their works through domain names. For example, "artist.xyz" corresponds to the portfolio hash on IPFS, and the copyright ownership is recorded on the chain, realizing the independent confirmation of "domain name is the copyright certificate".
Despite challenges such as cultivating user habits (such as accepting new domain suffixes) and adapting to regulatory compliance (such as real-name authentication for domain registration), decentralized DNS, as the core infrastructure of Web3.0, is redefining the identity and addressing logic of the digital world. With the maturity of the blockchain ecosystem, decentralized DNS will become a key hub connecting real identity, on-chain assets, and distributed applications, driving the Internet from "centralized control" to a new paradigm of value interconnection with "user autonomy".