Who Drove the Surge in ENS Domain Registrations in July?

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In July, over 326,800 new .eth domains were registered on the Ethereum Name Service (ENS), making it the second-highest monthly registration volume this year—just behind May’s peak of 365,652. With total ENS creations now surpassing 1.81 million and more than 500,400 unique addresses participating in domain registration, momentum is clearly building.

Concurrently, transaction activity has rebounded from June’s lows. According to NFTGO, daily sales volume for ENS domains consistently exceeded $150,000**, peaking at **$3.26 million on July 3. Compare that to June, where daily sales ranged between just $80,000 and $477,200, and the shift becomes even more striking.

But what’s behind this resurgence? Two key drivers stand out: declining Ethereum gas fees and heated speculation in the secondary market.

Why ENS Domain Registrations Are Spiking

👉 Discover how low gas fees are opening the door to mass Web3 adoption.

The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) functions like a decentralized DNS for blockchain addresses. Instead of sharing a complex 42-character hexadecimal string, users can register a human-readable .eth name—such as alice.eth—that resolves directly to their wallet. These names are stored as NFTs in users’ wallets, combining utility with digital ownership.

Since its launch in 2017, ENS has evolved from a niche tool into a core piece of Web3 identity infrastructure. Now, with over 1.8 million domains created, its growth is accelerating.

July’s surge wasn’t isolated. The trend aligns closely with broader network conditions—particularly Ethereum gas prices, which dropped to a one-year low.

On July 25, Glassnode reported a 7-day average gas fee of just 25.825 Gwei, significantly reducing the cost barrier for interacting with Ethereum-based applications—including ENS registration.

During the period from July 19 to 25, daily new .eth registrations climbed from four-digit figures back into the tens of thousands. By July 24, a single day saw 21,723 new domains registered—the highest in the month so far.

Lower transaction costs mean more users can experiment with Web3 tools without worrying about high fees. For many, this makes ENS registration not only affordable but also appealing as a low-risk entry point into decentralized identity.

Secondary Market Hype Fuels Speculative Interest

While cheaper gas lowers the barrier to entry, speculative excitement provides the spark.

High-profile sales and bids in the secondary market have kept ENS in the spotlight:

These events sent shockwaves through the community. On July 4 alone, 30,000 new addresses registered ENS domains. Over the following week, ENS trading volume surged by 496%.

Though amazon.eth hasn’t changed hands at that price—and its last sale was for 33 ETH (~$100,000 five months ago)—the mere possibility of such valuations fuels imagination and FOMO (fear of missing out).

And it’s not just Amazon. Domains linked to major tech brands are seeing increased attention:

Some of these names have seen real trades:

Yet many listings are wildly speculative—like one seller asking 100 trillion ETH for a variation of google.eth.

This mirrors early internet domain speculation, where investors snapped up brand-related URLs hoping for future buyouts. Today’s ENS speculators are betting that when Web2 giants finally enter Web3, they’ll want matching .eth identities.

But so far, no major company has officially adopted an ENS domain. That means current holders are mostly trading among themselves—a sign of market immaturity and speculative froth.

Is the Hype Sustainable?

ENS isn’t alone in the Web3 naming space. Competitors like Unstoppable Domains, Space ID (TNS), and Wilder World Name Service (WNS) are all vying for dominance. Each offers similar functionality across multiple blockchains.

This fragmentation raises questions: Will one naming standard win out? Or will interoperability become the norm?

For now, ENS remains the most established player—especially within the Ethereum ecosystem. Its integration with major wallets (like MetaMask), DeFi platforms, and social layers (like Lens Protocol) gives it strong network effects.

However, long-term value depends on utility, not speculation. Can .eth domains become essential for logging in, receiving payments, or verifying identity?

Early signals are promising:

👉 See how top traders use blockchain tools to track emerging trends before they go mainstream.

Core Keywords

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is an ENS domain?
A: An ENS (Ethereum Name Service) domain is a human-readable name ending in .eth that maps to an Ethereum wallet address. It simplifies sending crypto by replacing long wallet strings with easy-to-remember names like yourname.eth.

Q: Why did ENS registrations spike in July?
A: Two main factors: falling Ethereum gas fees made registration cheaper, and high-profile secondary market activity (like the $1M bid for amazon.eth) generated buzz and FOMO among users.

Q: Can I make money buying and selling ENS domains?
A: Some have profited from flipping premium names like short numbers or brand-related domains. However, most speculative listings don’t sell, and values depend heavily on future adoption. Treat it as high-risk speculation, not guaranteed income.

Q: Are companies actually using ENS domains?
A: Not widely yet. While brands like Amazon or Google have had .eth names registered by individuals, there’s no evidence these companies are actively using them. Adoption remains user-driven rather than corporate-led.

Q: How much does it cost to register an ENS domain?
A: Registration costs vary based on name length and gas fees. A typical 7+ character name costs around $5–$10 per year, plus minimal Ethereum network fees.

Q: Is ENS the only Web3 naming service?
A: No. Alternatives include Unstoppable Domains, Space ID (TNS), and WNS. But ENS leads in adoption on Ethereum due to strong developer support and integrations.

The Road Ahead for Web3 Identity

The spike in July underscores a growing interest in digital identity ownership. As Web3 matures, having a persistent, portable identity will be crucial—for social networks, gaming, DeFi, and beyond.

ENS sits at the forefront of this movement. While today’s surge may be fueled by speculation and low gas fees, the underlying trend points toward broader adoption.

For early adopters, now may be a strategic time to claim meaningful names before scarcity drives up demand again.

👉 Start exploring Web3 tools today and secure your digital identity before the next wave hits.