# Makoto Inoue, ENS Developer Interview: “ENS Is Not Just a Tool, It's a Starting Point”
### ENS Prepares for Next Phase: Introduction of ‘Namechain’
As digital interactions grow in importance, how individuals define their presence in the digital world is becoming increasingly critical. Social media accounts, email addresses, and online IDs are how we represent ourselves daily. But in blockchain ecosystems, user identification remains different. Wallet addresses composed of long, alphanumeric strings are the sole means of recognition—precise for machines, but far from intuitive for humans. While this approach guarantees technical transparency and trust, it falls short on user-friendliness.
Ethereum Name Service, or ENS, was created to resolve this inconvenience. Built on Ethereum, ENS focuses on converting complex and lengthy wallet addresses into short, human-readable names that are easy to understand and remember. Instead of battling strings of numbers and symbols, users can work with intuitive identifiers, improving their blockchain experience. This concept mirrors the early internet’s DNS (Domain Name System), which translated numerical IP addresses into readable domain names. ENS essentially transforms blockchain-based identifiers into an accessible format for end-users.
However, ENS is evolving beyond simple address management, aiming to develop into a comprehensive service that encapsulates personal identity. On October 16, Makoto Inoue, ENS Data Analytics Developer, emphasized this broader vision during an interview at the “BUIDL Asia 2025” conference held at the Lotte Signiel Hotel in Seoul.
“ENS is not merely a tool to make addresses more convenient; it’s a starting point for establishing personal presence in the digital world,” he explained. “For that purpose, a user-centric philosophy and the value of decentralization are paramount.”
Inoue elaborated on ENS’s principles, stating, “Users register ENS names themselves, and they can transfer ownership or modify linked information without third-party approvals. All these processes are automated through smart contracts rather than centralized servers.” He further noted, “ENS, as a platform, does not possess the authority to delete or restrict a specific user name. The system’s entire design prioritizes user autonomy and independence.”
### Addressing User Needs through Technological Innovation
To support these values, Inoue and the ENS team are actively working on refining the technology. “Ethereum’s mainnet, while robust, suffers from high gas fees and slow transaction speeds, which impact user experience,” Inoue said. “To address these limitations, we are developing Namechain.”
Currently under development, Namechain is a bespoke Layer 2 solution designed by ENS. It aims to alleviate the cost burdens and transaction delays of the Ethereum mainnet by processing transactions off-chain and only recording final results back on the mainnet. This structure is expected to reduce fees while boosting transaction speeds.
“Namechain applies zero-knowledge proof (ZK Proof) technology to simultaneously achieve faster transactions and data integrity,” Inoue stated. “It represents a solution that enhances performance while staying true to ENS’s core philosophy.”
### Expanding ENS’s Vision Beyond Identity
Leveraging these technological advancements, ENS is charting a course toward connecting identities with a range of activities and credentials. “By linking an ENS name to elements such as DAO voting histories, on-chain activities, and social media account information, we aim to enable users to verify their online trust records using a single name,” said the ENS developer. “The goal is to create a structure where existence and records are built upon the name itself.”
Inoue also highlighted a future potential where ENS names could link with off-chain environments such as hospitals, schools, or government organizations. “If ENS names connect with off-chain institutions, they could serve as tools for proving personal identity and history,” he added.
With innovations such as Namechain and a powerful philosophy prioritizing user empowerment, ENS is positioning itself not just as an improvement for blockchain usability but as a foundational layer for digital identity in the decentralized world.
