ENS App and Explorer are on the Sepolia testnet. Features may change before mainnet.
On ENSv2, the annual fee for a .eth name is charged in a stablecoin such as USDC — not in ETH. Gas fees for Ethereum network transactions are still paid in ETH. This page explains why, and what it means when you register or renew.
What is a stablecoin?
A stablecoin is a token whose value is pegged to a real-world currency — usually one US dollar. USDC is one example. Unlike ETH, whose price fluctuates, one USDC is always worth $1.
Why stablecoins?
ENSv1 charged fees in ETH. Because ETH's price moves, the real-world cost of a name varied unpredictably. ENSv2 charges in stablecoins so the fee is always the stated dollar amount — $8/yr for a 5+ character name, regardless of ETH price on the day you pay.
What you pay and what stays in ETH
Payment | Currency | Notes |
Annual name fee (registration / renewal) | Stablecoin (e.g. USDC) | $8/yr for 5+ chars, $160/yr for 4 chars, $640/yr for 3 chars. Multi-year discounts available. |
Gas (network fee) | ETH | Goes to Ethereum validators, not ENS. Amount varies with network demand. |
How payment works in the app
Every registration or renewal that uses a stablecoin requires two wallet transactions:
Approval. You authorise ENS to take the exact stablecoin amount from your wallet. This is a standard ERC-20 approval and costs a small amount of gas.
Registration or renewal. The actual transaction that registers or extends the name. This also costs gas.
The app prompts you for each in turn. Once the approval confirms, the second prompt appears automatically — you don't need to do anything between them.
What stablecoins are supported?
The ENS App shows the stablecoins available in your connected wallet. USDC is the most commonly used. If you do not hold any supported stablecoin, you will need to acquire one before you can register or renew.
Common questions
I don't have USDC — what can I do?
You can buy USDC or another supported stablecoin on any major exchange and transfer it to your wallet. The app shows your stablecoin balance when you reach the payment step, so you will know if you need to top up before confirming.
Do I still need ETH at all?
Yes — gas is always paid in ETH. Every transaction (registration, renewal, record edit) costs a small amount of gas from your wallet's ETH balance. The app shows the exact gas cost before you confirm, so you are never surprised.
ENSv1 charged me in ETH. Why has this changed?
ENSv1 set name fees in USD but collected the equivalent in ETH at the time of payment. This meant the ETH amount you paid changed every time the ETH price moved. ENSv2 collects directly in stablecoins, so the fee is always exactly the advertised dollar amount.
Where do the fees go?
Registration and renewal fees go to the ENS DAO — the community that governs ENS. Gas fees go to Ethereum validators. See Pricing & Fees for a full breakdown.