From IPs to ENS to 3DNS

Why Domains Are Finally Ready for the Onchain World

In the early days of the internet, every website was just a string of numbers. Visiting a site meant typing something like 192.168.0.1 into your browser. These were IP addresses, and there was a very low chance you were going to remember more than a couple of them. It was like needing to memorize a phone number for every person you wanted to text.

That all changed with the Domain Name System. DNS introduced a layer that allowed people to type in names like google.com instead of IPs. The system would resolve those names in the background, translating them back to the correct address. This made the web usable for the average person. Names are easier to remember than numbers. DNS made that possible.

Now, that same shift is happening onchain.

Sending a payment or interacting with a wallet usually means dealing with long, random-looking Ethereum addresses. ENS, or Ethereum Name Service, has been solving that problem by letting users map readable names like alice.eth to their wallet addresses. This makes crypto simpler, more human, and easier to build on.

But ENS mostly lives in the .eth namespace. What if you already have a .com, .xyz, or .ai? What if you want your existing domain to work onchain without giving up how it already functions on the web?

That’s where 3DNS comes in.

3DNS is the first ICANN-accredited platform to bring standard domains onchain while keeping them fully functional in browsers. It connects traditional domains like .com, .org, .lol, and .xyz to ENS, making them usable in dapps, wallets, and any tool that supports ENS resolution. In short, it makes your domain work onchain without giving up DNS support.

A Single Domain That Works in Two Worlds

Domains registered with 3DNS still resolve like normal in any browser. You can host websites, use custom DNS records, and manage email. But once connected onchain, the same domain can also function as your ENS name. You can receive crypto at yourdomain.com, assign subdomains like team.yourdomain.com to wallets, and integrate directly with Web3 infrastructure.

This means brands and projects can maintain their existing identity without needing to start over with .eth or something unfamiliar. The domain you already own becomes your onchain identity as well.

Under the hood, 3DNS issues domains as ERC-721 tokens. This means ownership is managed by your wallet. When the domain is transferred, full control moves with it, including onchain DNS management. There is no need to manually update settings or rely on centralized registrars to complete the process. The new owner can immediately manage records, assign subdomains, or list it for sale again.

This is a major difference from traditional systems. In many registrar transfers, the name may change hands, but DNS settings stay locked or outdated unless updated separately. With 3DNS, everything moves together. Control is instant and verified onchain.

Domains as Assets, Not Just Addresses

Treating a domain like an NFT opens up new possibilities. You can list it on marketplaces like OpenSea or ENS Vision. You can mint subdomains for community members or contributors. You can even fractionalize ownership if you're building with a group.

This gives rise to what people are calling DomainFi. Domains can now be rented, governed, and integrated into broader protocol structures. They are no longer just addresses pointing to websites. They are programmable, tradable digital assets that can carry value, identity, and infrastructure.

With 3DNS, you can also create entire onchain namespaces using subdomains. A DAO could issue user.dao.xyz names to members, each linked to a wallet. Projects could mint contributor roles, paid subdomain access, or build public directories — all under a domain they already own and control.

Why This Matters

Most of the Web3 stack is already onchain. Wallets, tokens, permissions, and payments all run through smart contracts. Domains were the missing piece. 3DNS connects the old internet to the new one without breaking what already works.

You don’t have to choose between compatibility and innovation. You get both. Your domain can route to a website, work as an ENS name, receive crypto, and act as a namespace for your community.

3DNS doesn’t reinvent the domain. It just makes it more useful.