Two transactions with a 60-second wait in between (a commit-reveal scheme). The wait stops front-running — if registration were one transaction, someone could see your transaction in the mempool, copy it with higher gas, and grab the name first.
Good to know
You need ETH on Ethereum Mainnet for the registration fee and gas — no other cost.
The two transactions confirm in about 2 minutes on a quiet network; busy networks take longer. Add the 60-second wait and the whole flow is usually under 3 minutes.
For step-by-step instructions, see How do I register a .eth name?
Step 1: Commit (first transaction)
Your wallet stores a hash onchain that links a secret in your browser to the name you want and your wallet — without revealing any of it publicly. Only you know the secret. No registration fee yet, just gas.
Once the commit is confirmed, you have 24 hours to complete registration before it expires. The name is not reserved for you during this window.
Important: don't speed up the commit transaction. The ENS App tracks the commit as a hash stored in your browser. If you speed up or replace the transaction, the hash changes and your registration gets stuck on "Almost there". If the commit is slow, wait it out.
Step 2: Wait 60 seconds
An onchain timer counts down. Nothing for you to do. Nobody can register the name before it ends. Once the timer closes, the front-running window has closed — anyone who saw your commit can't catch up before Step 3.
Step 3: Register (second transaction)
The second transaction reveals the name onchain and registers it. You pay the registration fee and gas. The NFT for your name (ERC-721, or ERC-1155 if wrapped) is minted and lands in your wallet.
Stuck on "Almost there"?
Most cases trace to a replaced commit. Check these in order:
Sped up or replaced the Step 1 transaction? The ENS App lost the stored hash — start over from Step 1. (This is why speeding up the commit breaks registration.)
More than 24 hours since Step 1? The commit expired — start over from Step 1.
Cleared your browser cache? The stored hash is gone — start over from Step 1.
For more help, see Registration Process Troubleshooting.
Could a miner front-run me?
No. To front-run, a miner would have to send their own commit, wait 60 seconds, then register. They can't hold your transaction back for a full minute — so by the time they could try, you've already finished Step 3.
What's next?
How do I register a .eth name? — step-by-step walkthrough
Registration Process Troubleshooting — stuck on "Almost there" or another error