The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) has surged into the spotlight over the past six months, capturing the attention of crypto enthusiasts, investors, and major brands alike. In September alone, new ENS domain registrations hit 437,000—a 57% increase from the previous month’s 301,000. Since May, total registrations have more than doubled to 2.6 million, a milestone that took the protocol just a few months to achieve after years of gradual growth.
Secondary markets like OpenSea have become hotspots for ENS domain trading, with the platform accounting for 97% of all ENS transaction volume and generating $5.5 million in protocol revenue—a 17% rise from August. Behind this surge lies a growing recognition of ENS domains as both functional tools and digital assets with long-term value.
👉 Discover why top investors are snapping up short ENS domains before they vanish forever.
What Is an ENS Domain?
An Ethereum Name Service (ENS) domain functions like a personalized web address—but for the decentralized world of Web3. Instead of typing a complex string of letters and numbers to send cryptocurrency, users can now use simple, human-readable names ending in .eth, such as alice.eth or crypto.wallet.eth.
Built on the Ethereum blockchain, ENS domains act as customizable crypto wallet identifiers, simplifying transactions by replacing long hexadecimal addresses with memorable names. But their utility extends beyond payments: ENS domains can also serve as decentralized website URLs, profile names in dApps (decentralized applications), and even digital identity markers.
Each .eth domain is registered as a non-fungible token (NFT), making it unique, transferable, and tradable on NFT marketplaces. Registration fees vary based on name length—shorter names cost more. For example, a five-character name costs less than a three-character one, with prices ranging from $5 to over $600 per year in ETH.
Since its launch in 2017, ENS has operated as an open-source decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), giving token holders governance rights over the protocol. High-profile figures like Vitalik Buterin (vitalik.eth) have embraced ENS domains, while global brands including Nike (nike.eth), Chanel (chanel.eth), and Hermes (hermes.eth) have secured their digital real estate in Web3.
This blend of utility, scarcity, and status has turned premium ENS domains into coveted digital collectibles—some selling for millions.
The Top 5 Most Expensive ENS Domains Ever Sold
1. paradigm.eth – 420 ETH (~$2 million)
Topping the list is paradigm.eth, which sold for 420 ETH in October 2021—equivalent to over $2 million at the time. The buyer remains anonymous, though speculation swirled around Paradigm, the prominent crypto venture capital firm co-led by Fred Ehrsam and Charlie Noyes. The firm publicly denied involvement.
Despite the denial, the purchase signaled a major shift: high-value digital identities were no longer just for individuals but could represent institutional presence in Web3.
2. pjfi.eth – 350 ETH (~$463,200)
In September 2022, pjfi.eth was sold for 350 ETH, making it the second most expensive ENS domain ever traded. Remarkably, the seller had acquired it just days earlier on OpenSea for only 0.12 ETH ($161)—a return of nearly 289,000% in a matter of days.
This whirlwind flip highlights the speculative frenzy surrounding rare and phonetically appealing domains.
3. 000.eth – 300 ETH (~$317,000)
Scarcity drives value—and few domains are scarcer than 000.eth. Sold on July 3, 2022, for 300 ETH, this numeric triplet has changed hands six times since its first sale in 2019 for just $52.
The current owner paid significantly more than the original buyer, who purchased it in 2020 for 2.6 ETH ($638). Today, 000.eth stands as a symbol of digital minimalism and exclusivity within the ENS ecosystem.
4. abc.eth – 90 ETH (~$254,000)
Alphabetically perfect and easy to remember, abc.eth sold for 90 ETH in 2022. Its journey began in October 2019 when it was first listed for 4 ETH ($763)—a price that now seems unimaginably low.
With four unique owners over three years, abc.eth exemplifies how early adoption and linguistic simplicity can translate into substantial long-term gains.
5. 09jul.eth – 95 ETH (~$240,000)
Rounding out the top five is 09jul.eth, which sold for 95 ETH on May 8, 2022. Even more astonishing? The seller had bought it just ten hours earlier for approximately $10.
While some adult-themed domains like porno.eth have fetched higher ETH amounts (184 ETH), their dollar value was lower due to declining ETH prices at the time—demonstrating how market timing impacts perceived value.
Why Are ENS Domains Gaining Value?
The surge in ENS adoption isn’t random—it’s driven by several powerful trends shaping the future of digital identity and ownership.
Scarcity and Status: The Rise of the “999 Club”
Nick Johnson, founder of ENS, attributes much of the recent growth to interest in exclusive communities like the “999 Club” and “10k Club”—online social groups for owners of three- and four-digit (or letter) .eth domains. These names are finite in supply, making them inherently valuable.
As Vitalik Buterin noted in a 2020 tweet:
“Three and four-letter ENS names: they’re a fixed-supply asset and you can do things with them!”
This scarcity mirrors early .com domain rushes in the 1990s—only this time, ownership is transparent, verifiable, and borderless thanks to blockchain technology.
Web3 Infrastructure Is Maturing
With Ethereum’s transition to proof-of-stake and ongoing scalability upgrades like rollups and sharding, developers are building more robust Web3 applications. As this infrastructure grows, so does the need for user-friendly access points—like simple .eth domains.
Parsa Abbasi, co-founder of LivelyVerse, explains:
“Having a domain with a good and easy name is something people will need to promote their businesses in Web3. It’s like buying .com domains back in the day—except now, anyone can participate.”
👉 See how owning a short ENS domain could position you at the forefront of Web3 branding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is an ENS domain used for?
A: An ENS domain simplifies Ethereum addresses for sending/receiving crypto, serves as a decentralized website URL, functions as a Web3 username, and can be traded as an NFT.
Q: How much does it cost to register an ENS domain?
A: Registration costs between $5 and $640 annually in ETH, depending on name length and duration. Shorter names cost more due to higher demand and scarcity.
Q: Can I sell my ENS domain?
A: Yes. Once registered, your ENS domain is an NFT that you can list on marketplaces like OpenSea or transfer to another wallet.
Q: Are ENS domains only valuable if they’re short?
A: While short domains (especially 3–4 characters) command the highest prices, meaningful names (e.g., crypto.news) or brandable terms can also hold significant value.
Q: Is there a risk in investing in ENS domains?
A: Like any speculative digital asset, values can fluctuate. However, growing Web3 adoption supports long-term utility and potential appreciation.
Q: Do companies really buy ENS domains?
A: Yes. Major brands like Nike (nike.eth), Taco Bell (tacobell.eth), and Reddit (reddit.eth) have registered .eth domains to establish their presence in decentralized ecosystems.
👉 Learn how early adopters are turning premium ENS names into lasting digital assets today.
Final Thoughts
ENS domains represent more than just crypto addresses—they’re becoming foundational elements of digital identity in Web3. From ultra-rare numeric strings like 000.eth to brand-ready names like paradigm.eth, these domains blend functionality with collectible appeal.
As Ethereum scales and Web3 becomes mainstream, owning a memorable .eth name may prove as essential as securing a domain was during the dot-com boom. Whether you're an investor, creator, or entrepreneur, now is the time to explore what your digital legacy could look like—with a name that lasts forever on the blockchain.
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