A no-BS comparison of blockchain domains and traditional DNS. We'll tell you exactly when to use each—including when not to use .bidlive.
.bidlive
Auction-specific
ENS (.eth)
Ethereum native
Traditional
.com, .io, etc.
3 Options
When you need a website regular people can visit in Chrome/Safari. This is still the default for 99% of businesses.
Use ENS (.eth)
When you're deep in Ethereum ecosystem and want a human-readable wallet address. 2M+ registered.
When you're in the auction industry and want an industry-specific Web3 identity. Niche positioning.
Honest take: Most auction businesses need a .com first. .bidlive is a Web3 add-on for those already in (or moving into) the crypto space. Don't buy .bidlive thinking it replaces your .com—it doesn't.
ENS (Ethereum Name Service) is the OG of blockchain domains. Launched in 2017, it lets you register .eth names that work as human-readable wallet addresses on Ethereum.
Instead of sending ETH to
0x7a2F4c8E...3b91, you send to
vitalik.eth. That's the core value prop.
2M+
Names registered
2017
Year launched
$5/yr
5+ char names
640K+
Unique owners
Source: ens.domains, Dune Analytics
.bidlive is a Web3 domain extension specifically for the auction industry. It's provided by Freename—a platform that lets anyone create and register Web3 TLDs (Top Level Domains).
Unlike ENS which is Ethereum-native, Freename domains work across multiple chains including Base and are minted as NFTs. You own the domain outright—no annual renewals.
Full transparency: We (GotTLDs) are a startup partnering with Freename to market .bidlive and other industry-specific TLDs. We're not Freename, and we're not the only .bidlive seller—Freename is the registry.
Freename
Registry provider
Multi-chain
Including Base
One-time
No renewals
NFT
True ownership
The domains you've been using your whole life. Managed by ICANN, sold by registrars like GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains. This is still what 99% of the internet uses.
Here's the honest breakdown. We're not going to pretend .bidlive wins every category—it doesn't. Different tools for different jobs.
| Feature | Traditional | ENS (.eth) | .bidlive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browser Support | All Browsers ✓ | Via IPFS/Extensions | Web3 Wallets & dApps |
| Wallet Integration | N/A | Excellent ✓ | Freename Wallets |
| Pricing Model | $10-15/year | $5-640+/year (by length) | One-time ✓ |
| Ownership Type | Rental (can be seized) | NFT (expires if not renewed) | NFT Forever ✓ |
| Industry Signal | Generic | Crypto/Ethereum | Auction ✓ |
| Brand Recognition | Highest ✓ | High in Web3 ✓ | New/Growing |
| Blockchain | None (ICANN/DNS) | Ethereum only | Base & multi-chain |
| Premium Name Availability | Mostly Taken | Short Names $$$ | Available ✓ |
Different tools for different jobs
✓ You need a public website
If customers need to type something into Chrome and land on your site, you need a .com (or .io, .co, etc.). Period.
✓ Your audience isn't crypto-native
If your customers don't know what MetaMask is, they won't understand Web3 domains. Stick with traditional.
✓ You need email
Traditional domains = traditional email ([email protected]). Web3 domains don't do email.
✓ SEO matters to you
Google indexes .com sites. Web3 domains don't show up in search results the same way.
✓ You're deep in Ethereum ecosystem
If you're building on Ethereum, using ETH daily, and your audience is too—ENS is the standard.
✓ Wallet recognition matters most
ENS has the best wallet integration. If receiving crypto is your primary use case, ENS wins.
✓ You want DAO governance
ENS is governed by a DAO with $ENS tokens. If decentralized governance matters, that's a real advantage.
✓ You're okay with renewals
ENS requires annual renewal fees. If you forget to renew, you lose the name. Budget accordingly.
Let's look at how real companies and projects are actually using these domain types. No hypotheticals—just facts.
vitalik.eth
Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum co-founder) - arguably the most famous ENS name. Used for receiving ETH donations.
nike.eth
Nike acquired their brand name on ENS as part of their Web3/metaverse push with .SWOOSH platform.
puma.eth
Puma also secured their ENS name, partnering with Gutter Cat Gang for NFT collections.
budweiser.eth (beer.eth)
Budweiser bought beer.eth for 30 ETH (~$100K at the time) and uses it for NFT initiatives.
These are publicly documented brand purchases—verifiable on-chain.
Even the biggest crypto companies use traditional domains for their main websites:
coinbase.com
$100B+ exchange
opensea.io
Largest NFT marketplace
uniswap.org
Biggest DEX
aave.com
DeFi lending
ethereum.org
Ethereum Foundation
ens.domains
Even ENS uses traditional!
Key point: Even ENS—the Web3 domain company—uses a traditional domain (ens.domains) for their main website. Web3 domains complement traditional domains; they don't replace them.
.bidlive is new, so we can't list major brand users yet. Here's who it makes sense for:
Platforms tokenizing real estate, art, or collectibles for blockchain-based auctions.
Digital art auctions, gaming asset markets, virtual real estate sales.
Companies like Sotheby's or Christie's (or smaller houses) adding crypto capabilities.
Speculators who believe auction-industry Web3 domains will appreciate. (This is speculative—no guarantees.)
Start with a .com (or traditional domain)
This is your public-facing website. Non-negotiable for business credibility in 2026.
Add ENS if you're accepting ETH payments
If customers pay in crypto, an ENS name provides wallet integration most people recognize.
Consider .bidlive for industry branding
If you want an auction-specific Web3 identity, one-time ownership, and to secure a premium name early—.bidlive fits.
GotTLDs.com is a startup marketing .bidlive and other industry-specific Web3 domains. We partner with Freename—they're the registry, we handle marketing and education.
We obviously have a financial interest in .bidlive adoption. That's why we're being upfront about when NOT to use it. We'd rather build trust than oversell.
Search available auction-industry names. One-time purchase, no renewals.
Pricing shown at checkout through Freename
Need a Traditional Domain?
Try GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains
Want an ENS Name?
Visit ens.domains
Explore .bidlive
Auction-specific Web3 identity
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