A Guide to Using Your Crypto Wallet for Web3 Domains (ENS, Unstoppable Domains)

Understanding Web3 Domain Integration

1. Web3 domains like Ethereum Name Service (ENS) and Unstoppable Domains function as human-readable identifiers mapped to blockchain addresses, smart contracts, or decentralized content.

2. These domains are stored on-chain and require a compatible crypto wallet to register, manage, renew, and configure resolution settings.

3. Wallets such as MetaMask, Trust Wallet, and Phantom support ENS and Unstoppable Domains through direct integration with their respective registries and resolvers.

4. Ownership of a Web3 domain is proven via cryptographic signatures—only the private key holder can initiate transfers or update records.

5. Unlike traditional DNS, no central authority controls domain expiration or censorship; renewal relies entirely on on-chain transactions and gas fees.

Setting Up Your Wallet for Domain Registration

1. Ensure your wallet is connected to the correct network—ENS operates primarily on Ethereum Mainnet and supports Layer 2s like Base and Optimism via cross-chain bridges.

2. Fund your wallet with ETH for ENS registration or USDC/USDT for Unstoppable Domains on supported chains including Polygon and Solana.

3. Navigate to app.ens.domains or unstoppabledomains.com and connect your wallet using the “Connect Wallet” button—this triggers a signature request to verify control.

4. Search for an available domain name; if taken, the interface displays ownership details and possible transfer options via marketplace integrations.

5. Confirm the transaction in your wallet interface—this includes gas estimation, domain duration, and resolver configuration defaults.

Managing Records and Resolvers

1. After registration, access the domain’s management dashboard to set address records—map your wallet address to the domain for simplified sending.

2. Configure content hash (IPFS/CID) records to point to decentralized websites hosted on Filecoin or Skynet.

3. Add text records for wallet verification, email encryption keys, or social media handles—these appear publicly on-chain but remain immutable once written.

4. Change the primary resolver contract if deploying custom logic—for example, using ENS’s Public Resolver versus a community-built Multicall Resolver.

5. Export your domain’s ABI and contract address for developers integrating domain lookups into dApps or signing protocols.

Security Practices for Domain Control

1. Never share your seed phrase when interacting with ENS or Unstoppable interfaces—even legitimate-looking pop-ups requesting it are phishing attempts.

2. Use hardware wallets like Ledger or Trezor for long-term domain holdings; software wallets should only hold minimal funds needed for renewals.

3. Enable wallet transaction simulation tools to preview resolver updates before signing—this prevents accidental overwrites of critical records.

4. Monitor domain expiry dates via wallet notifications or block explorers like Etherscan; missed renewals result in irreversible loss of control.

5. Avoid granting unlimited allowances to third-party domain managers—revoke permissions regularly using tools like Revoke.cash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use the same wallet address for both ENS and Unstoppable Domains?Yes. Both systems accept standard Ethereum-compatible addresses. However, Unstoppable Domains also supports Solana and Polygon, requiring separate wallet configurations per chain.

Q: Why does my ENS domain show “Not configured” even after registration?This occurs when the domain’s resolver has not been set or the address record remains empty. Visit the ENS manager and manually assign a resolver and ETH address.

Q: Do subdomains inherit the security settings of the parent domain?No. Subdomains like blog.myname.eth must be individually claimed and configured. The parent domain owner retains authority to revoke them unless permissionless delegation is enabled.

Q: Can I transfer my Unstoppable Domain to another wallet without losing data?Yes. Transferring changes the owner address on-chain but preserves all configured records—provided the new wallet supports the same resolver standards and network.