ENS names and Farcaster usernames: the basics
What is an ENS name?
The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) lets you register a readable name such as alice.eth and link it to a wallet address, a profile picture and other records. Instead of sharing a long address, you share the name. Registrations run for a set period and need to be renewed to keep the name.
What is a Farcaster username?
Farcaster is a social network built on an open protocol. Accounts can claim a short username, often called an fname, which appears next to posts and in mentions. An account can change its username later, and a released name can be claimed by someone else.
Format rules at a glance
- ENS (.eth): at least 3 characters. Lowercase letters, digits and hyphens are the safe choice.
- Farcaster: up to 16 characters, lowercase letters, digits and hyphens, not starting with a hyphen.
Rules can change over time, so treat the checker on the home page as a quick filter and confirm on the official apps.
Choosing a name that fits both
- Keep it between 3 and 16 characters.
- Stick to lowercase letters and digits. Hyphens work but are easy to mistype.
- Avoid look-alike characters such as a zero and the letter o.
- Say it out loud. If it is hard to spell over a call, pick another.