What’s the difference between 3DNS, ENS, HNS, and GoDaddy

Introduction

In today’s primarily online world, a robust, secure, and user-friendly Domain Name System (DNS) is not merely a convenience—it’s a necessity. DNS has often been described as the “phonebook of the internet”. In a phonebook, you look up someone’s name to find their telephone number; DNS works in a similar way but for websites and internet services.

When you type a human-readable web address (like www.google.com) into your browser, DNS translates that into an IP address that computers can understand. This IP address is required to locate the server where the website’s content is stored. Without DNS, you’d have to remember complex IP addresses like 172.217.22.14 instead of simply typing “google.com.”

It has long been a centralized system, subject to censorship, security vulnerabilities, and monopolistic control. However, the landscape of DNS is undergoing a shift with the advent of decentralized DNS platforms that leverage blockchain technology. We'll delve deep into the nuances of three major players in this space: 3DNS, Ethereum Name Service (ENS) and Handshake (HNS) compared to a centralized provider, Godaddy.

Decentralized DNS: The New Paradigm

Marked by growing concerns over internet surveillance, censorship, and cyber-attacks, the move towards decentralized DNS is not just a technological evolution but a significant leap forward for internet freedom and security.

The advantages of this approach are manifold. First and foremost, decentralized DNS systems are inherently resistant to censorship. Secondly, the use of blockchain’s immutable record-keeping enhances DNS security substantially, mitigating risks associated with common DNS attacks like DNS hijacking. Furthermore, these systems introduce the concept of domain liquidity. Domains are tokenized into Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) that can be traded, sold, or purchased, just like any other digital asset, enabling a fluid and robust marketplace for domain names.

These platforms also offer a range of functionalities thanks to the transparent and programmable nature of blockchain protocols. This includes but is not limited to, interoperability with other decentralized applications and assets. As a result, users gain more control and ownership over their domains, further bolstering trust in the system.

3DNS: The First Onchain Web Domain Registrar

3DNS proudly stands as the first onchain web domain registrar, supporting the purchase or import of TLDs like .com, .xyz, .io, and .box. 3DNS is the only decentralized domain provider to function with ICANN, The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers - a nonprofit organization responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of root TLD’s on the web. ICANN is like the rule-maker for how we find websites on the internet. You know how your home has an address so people can find it? Websites have addresses too, and ICANN helps make sure each one is unique and works correctly, so when you type the domain in your browser, you go to the right place.

Once the domain is brought into 3DNS’s offchain ICANN registrar, the user will receive an NFT from the onchain registrar, which becomes the default ownership/management record for the domain. The offchain registrar can only be updated via an update to the onchain registrar and the onchain registrar can only be updated by the wallet possessing the specific domain NFT.

How 3DNS Works:

Account Setup: Connect your crypto wallet to create your 3DNS account.
Register or Transfer a Domain: You have the option to transfer an existing domain from another registrar or register a new one with 3DNS.
Manage Your Domain: All name records are stored onchain, requiring access to the wallet where the NFT domain for any updates.
Sell Your Domain: Domains can be instantly transferred, without unnecessary broker fees or escrow.

Unique Features:

Reduced DNS Hijacking Risk: Unlike centralized registrars that can be compromised via customer support, 3DNS is smart contract based, meaning a hacker needs access to your private key to steal your domain.
Instant Domain Liquidity: Because each domain is minted as an NFT, it enables instant transfers and creates robust financial markets for domains.
Decentralized Domain Access: While following ICANN rules, 3DNS domains are resolved via browser extensions.
Domains as DID Profiles: 3DNS domains can be linked with the ENS core registry contracts and used as DID profiles.

By integrating these features, 3DNS not only offers a higher level of DNS security but also domain liquidity not found on centralized providers.

Ethereum Name Service (ENS)

The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is a decentralized naming system built on the Ethereum blockchain. At its core, ENS maps human-readable names to machine-readable identifiers, like Ethereum addresses, other blockchain addresses, content hashes, and more.

The architecture is designed around a set of smart contracts deployed on the Ethereum blockchain. The central contract is the ENS Registry, which maintains a list of all domain names and their corresponding Resolvers and Owners. Domain ownership is an Ethereum address, which means that domain control is as secure as the cryptographic primitives of the Ethereum network itself.

Resolvers are smart contracts that implement a standard interface, allowing them to translate names into addresses. They are set on a per-name basis and can be customized to support a wide array of functionalities, like reverse lookups and multicoin support. They also allow for text records, enabling additional metadata to be associated with a domain name, like email or URL.

The name registration process is often facilitated by the .eth Registrar, another smart contract that governs how names under the “.eth” TLD can be claimed. This often involves an auction or a rent model, although this can vary and is subject to change.

ENS also integrates with the DNS namespace, allowing for existing DNS domain owners to claim their corresponding .eth names, thereby making ENS more extensible and capable of serving as a bridge between the traditional DNS system and the blockchain-based naming systems. However, because ENS isn’t compatible with ICANN, if you bridge your .com domain and wrap it in an NFT and sell it, it doesn’t reflect on ICANN and the new owner doesn’t actually own the new domain and .eth holders cant resolve their websites in browsers. It’s only by updating the .eth domain’s content hash on the ENS registry can the .eth domain be resolved in the browser. This is enabled through cloudflare’s .link and eth.limo’s .limo extensions, and works currently with static websites hosted on IPFS (i.e. https://app.ens.eth.limo/). See a tutorial for how to setup your ENS name with our friends at Fleek. Domains purchased on ENS are functionally leased, you can only set the time period that you lease your domain for.

The ENS architecture is designed to be upgradable and extensible, so it can adapt to new requirements and technologies over time. It’s an essential piece of Ethereum’s Web3 stack, increasing usability while preserving the decentralized, censorship-resistant properties of blockchain networks.

Key Features:

Resolver Contracts: ENS uses resolver contracts to manage domains.

NFT Domain Ownership: Like 3DNS, ENS also mints domains as NFTs.

ENS ELI5 (explain it like i'm 5)

Imagine you have a magic book of addresses where you can write down the names of all your friends’ houses. Instead of complicated directions like “Turn left at the big tree, then go three blocks,” you can simply write “Billy’s House.” Now, whenever you want to visit Billy, you just say, “Magic book, take me to Billy’s House!” and poof, you’re there!

ENS is like that magic book, but for the crypto. It lets you have a special name for a wallet where you keep your digital money. So instead of typing a long, confusing address like “0x1234567891011234,” you can just type something easy like “BillysWebsite.eth” or “BillysWallet.crypto.” It’s a lot easier to remember, right?

The best part is, once you pick a name and write it in your magic book (which is really just a computer program), nobody else can use that name. And because it’s like a magic book, no one can take it away from you or tell you how to use it. You can even sell your special name to someone else at any point, if you want.

So, ENS helps make crypto easier and safer for everyone to use.

Handshake: The Auction-Based TLD DNS Blockchain

Handshake is a decentralized, permissionless naming protocol where every peer in the network validates and manages the root Domain Name System (DNS). Unlike traditional DNS, which relies on a hierarchical, centralized system of domain registrars and root servers, Handshake places control directly into the hands of the users through its blockchain-based architecture.

In Handshake, domain name registration occurs via a Vickrey auction, a sealed-bid auction where bidders submit hidden bids. Winning the auction secures you the top-level domain (TLD), but the amount you pay is the second-highest bid. This mechanism aims to find the true market value of a domain name.

The Handshake protocol uses a modified version of the Bitcoin consensus algorithm, proof-of-work, to validate transactions and add new blocks to the blockchain. Each block contains domain name registrations, renewals, and transfers. The blockchain serves as the root zone file, containing the authoritative record for each domain.

One of the most deeply technical components is the Merkle Tree integration for data verification. This data structure allows any participant in the network to verify the authenticity of the domain records without needing the entire blockchain. This is crucial for scalability and performance, as DNS queries need to be fast.

Handshake also aims to replace the traditional system of Certificate Authorities (CAs) with a decentralized system of trust. By using cryptographic proofs, it ensures that a given domain name belongs to its rightful owner, thus eliminating the need for third-party verification. This has significant implications for web security, reducing the risks associated with centralized CAs like certificate mis-issuance and authority compromise.

Handshake is meant to replace the root zone file, not DNS. Browsing the web with human readable names is what Internet users have gotten acclimated to. Handshake allows for a seamless transition between a centralized name root zone file controlled by private parties to a decentralized root zone file controlled by actual Internet users. Handshake domains are registered for two years at a time. When looking to sell your domain, it takes 288 blocks, or about 2 days, before the name owner can send a FINALIZE transaction when selling a domain.

In summary, Handshake attempts to revolutionize the foundational DNS infrastructure by decentralizing control, enhancing security through cryptography, and offering a more transparent and fair domain name registration system for root domains.

Key Features:

Distributed Certificates: Eliminates centralized certificate authorities

Auction System: For new TLDs created in the root DNS, they first have to apply for the top-level domain, win an auction for it, and await approval.

GoDaddy: A Leading Web Domain Registrar

GoDaddy is recognized as a leading web2 domain registrar, offering a wide range of services beyond domain registration, including hosting, email, and security products. As a centralized service provider, GoDaddy operates solely within the traditional DNS infrastructure, maintaining a user-friendly platform that has been the industry standard of registering, and managing web2 domain names.

How GoDaddy Works:

Account Setup: Create an account with GoDaddy to start managing your domain names.
Register or Transfer a Domain: Choose from a vast selection of TLDs like .com, .net, .org, and more. Transfer existing domains to GoDaddy for centralized management, but may take weeks to months.
Manage Your Domain: GoDaddy’s dashboard allows for easy configuration of DNS records, renewal settings, and privacy options.
Sell Your Domain: Through GoDaddy’s domain auction platform or through a broker, users can list their domains for sale, reaching a vast market of potential buyers.
Integrated Services: Beyond domain registration, GoDaddy offers hosting, website building, and email services, providing a one-stop solution for online needs.
User-Friendly Platform: Designed for ease of use, GoDaddy’s platform caters to both novices and experienced users, streamlining domain management and related services.

GoDaddy offers a centralized but comprehensive DNS management solution, catering to a wide range of user needs from domain registration to website security. GoDaddy has been the location of many DNS hijackings in crypto, mainly because it's the largest registrar.

Conclusion

The world of decentralized DNS platforms is both diverse and dynamic, offering a range of options for different needs. However, among the platforms discussed, 3DNS stands out for its comprehensive security features and versatility in domain ownership. Its adherence to ICANN rules, coupled with the ability to resolve domains through browser the browser like any other domain, gives it a unique edge in terms of both security and accessibility. With features like instant domain liquidity and reduced DNS hijacking risks, 3DNS not only addresses the current limitations but also opens new avenues for future innovation in DNS management.

In summary, as blockchain technology continues to revolutionize various sectors, choosing a platform like 3DNS that is not just up-to-date but also future-ready becomes crucial. It offers a unique blend of security, liquidity, and accessibility, making it the go-to platform for anyone serious about owning and securing their piece of the digital world.