Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Handshake.org VS Ethereum Name Service

Compare Handshake.org VS Ethereum Name Service and see what are their differences

Handshake.org logo Handshake.org

Decentralized certificate authority and naming

Ethereum Name Service logo Ethereum Name Service

Like DNS, but for Ethereum wallet addresses
  • Handshake.org Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-19
  • Ethereum Name Service Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12

Handshake.org features and specs

  • Decentralization
    Handshake aims to create a decentralized root DNS zone, which can make the domain registration process more secure and less susceptible to censorship.
  • Security
    By employing blockchain technology, Handshake enhances domain ownership security, reducing the risks associated with traditional domain name system models, like central points of failure.
  • Transparency
    The transparency of blockchain technology can provide a clear and unchangeable record of domain ownership, which may help in disputes and verification of domain history.
  • Cost-effectiveness
    Eliminating traditional intermediaries and their associated fees can lead to reduced costs in obtaining and maintaining domain names.
  • Universal access
    Handshake aims to democratize domain ownership access, potentially allowing individuals from all over the world to participate without significant barriers.

Possible disadvantages of Handshake.org

  • Adoption Hurdles
    Building widespread adoption and integration into existing internet infrastructure poses significant challenges, as the traditional DNS providers are well established.
  • Technical Complexity
    The reliance on blockchain technology and understanding the novel system can introduce a steep learning curve for those accustomed to traditional DNS.
  • Market Competition
    Handshake is up against deeply entrenched traditional DNS systems and companies, which can make gaining traction difficult.
  • Limited Functionality
    Since it's a relatively new and developing platform, Handshake may currently lack some of the features and integrations available with more mature DNS services.
  • Stability and Security Risks
    As with many blockchain-based solutions, there are ongoing concerns regarding the long-term stability and security of the technology base.

Ethereum Name Service features and specs

  • Simplified Addressing
    ENS allows users to replace long and complex Ethereum addresses with easy-to-remember domain names, making transactions and interactions more user-friendly.
  • Interoperability
    ENS domains can be used across multiple dApps and wallets within the Ethereum ecosystem, enhancing usability and reducing friction for users.
  • Decentralization
    ENS is built on Ethereum's decentralized blockchain, ensuring that the service is secure, censorship-resistant, and operates without a single point of failure.
  • Multi-Currency Support
    ENS can be used not only for Ethereum but also for other cryptocurrencies, making it versatile for various blockchain-based services.
  • NFT Integration
    ENS names themselves are considered NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), allowing for greater functionality such as the ability to trade, sell, and transfer domain ownership.

Possible disadvantages of Ethereum Name Service

  • Cost
    Registering and maintaining an ENS domain can be relatively costly compared to traditional domain services, especially considering gas fees on the Ethereum network.
  • Complexity
    For new users, understanding and using ENS can be complex, especially if they are not already familiar with blockchain technology and Ethereum basics.
  • Scalability Issues
    As it relies on the Ethereum network, ENS is subject to the scalability issues and transaction delays that currently affect Ethereum.
  • Namespace Conflicts
    With multiple people vying for popular or generic names, there can be disputes over ownership, leading to potential legal and logistical challenges.
  • Security Risks
    Although ENS is built to be secure, it is still susceptible to phishing or other social engineering attacks whereby users might inadvertently send funds to a malicious address masquerading as a legitimate ENS name.

Handshake.org videos

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Ethereum Name Service videos

Send Cryptocurrencies EASILY with ENS NFTs! Ethereum Name Service Tutorial

More videos:

  • Review - Buy your ENS domain before it's too late! (What is Ethereum Name Service?)
  • Review - What is ENS? Ethereum Name Service Lookup System

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Handshake.org and Ethereum Name Service)
Domain Names
73 73%
27% 27
Crypto
10 10%
90% 90
Web App
57 57%
43% 43
Cryptocurrencies
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Ethereum Name Service should be more popular than Handshake.org. It has been mentiond 192 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Handshake.org mentions (60)

  • The Top of the DNS Hierarchy
    Would you consider https://handshake.org to be one? - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Own full personal domain name without .com etc.
    It's based on the handshake blockchain https://handshake.org/ and yes, it's outside of DNS from what I have read. I originally assumed that had bought 1,000,000 TLD at $240k each :) which is crazy as its sounds. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Vickrey Auction
    The Handshake [0] project used (uses?) Vickrey auction to auction off the initial supply of names. It had some other cool ideas, such as replacing certificate authorities with self-signed certificates verified by the blockchain. I know everyone hates blockchain, I kind of do too, but Handshake I found genuinely interesting. Disclaimer, I own some Handshake names so you could say I'm shilling for it but mostly the... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • So we did a thing !
    Our stack is built on Handshake. You can know more at handshake.org. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • ELI5: How do internet domains work? Who are you paying?
    In the future things might change, there's discussions around decentralization of trust that now has accumulated with a select few (donut domains? Verisign?) Handshake is one such protocol that allows you to have decentralized trust and hence gives you freedom to have your own TLD, porkbun will even sell you one if you'd like but it's very much experimental today. Source: about 2 years ago
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Ethereum Name Service mentions (192)

  • It is no longer safe to move our governments and societies to US clouds
    ENS[1] and Box[2] come to mind. The crypto people have been contemplating this for a long time. [1]: https://ens.domains/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Itch.io Taken Down by Funko
    It's federated, not decentralized. For decentralized you need something like https://ens.domains/. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • How do I pay the publisher of a web page?
    I know this forum hates crypto but this is very doable with ENS. You can both point to content via an ENS domain and also link to a wallet address. https://ens.domains/. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • How to Become a Registrar
    Have you looked into ENS (https://ens.domains) ? It's everything namecoin wanted to be and more. Also probably the only real usecase for NFTs besides pure collecting and speculation. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Don't trust, verify: Indexing ENS Domains with Subsquid
    While creating these tutorials, I choose Ethereum Name Service as an example, because it's a famous project, and quite frankly, also because I take these changes to study some subjects I am interested in (sue me! 😛). - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Handshake.org and Ethereum Name Service, you can also consider the following products

One Word Domains - Database of all available one-word domains

IPFS - IPFS is the permanent web. A new peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol.

Lean Domain Search - Find a Great Domain Name w/ twitter handle availability

DeFi Pulse - Track key metrics of top decentralized finance tools

Tool.Domains - Search free to register expired domains

Unlock - Monetize your content with a few lines of code