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Identity Through ENS: Building a Verified Digital Self

2025-08-01 · 2 min · 426 words · ookyet.eth
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Illustration of a digital identity building journey.
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“Avatar = Me” — In the digital realm, your avatar is not just a symbol. It is you.

As the internet decentralizes, our digital identities escape the confines of siloed usernames. They are forged through consistency, transparency, and verifiable ownership. This is the playbook for building that new form of self, using a powerful stack: ENS, NFTs, and a sovereign website.

Populate ENS text records

The journey begins with the Ethereum Name Service (ENS). It is your decentralized username and personal domain, all in one, mapping a complex wallet address to a human-readable name like ookyet.eth. More importantly, it acts as your public, on-chain profile.

By populating your ENS text records, you create the building blocks of trust:

  • avatar (Your visual identity, linked to an NFT)
  • url (The link to your personal website—your identity hub)
  • com.instagram, com.twitter (Verifiable links to your social presence)

Each record is a transparent, machine-readable claim, creating a foundation that any platform can verify.

Use an NFT avatar you own

When you own an NFT and set it as your ENS avatar, it becomes a cryptographically-signed visual identity.

The real power emerges from consistency. By using the same verifiably-owned avatar across all platforms (X, Instagram, GitHub), you forge a powerful visual signature. This pattern is a strong signal of authenticity that modern systems like Meta Verified are beginning to recognize.

Lil Ghost #5137 → owned by 0x1691... → linked to ookyet.eth → displayed on X & Instagram.

A complete, verifiable chain of identity.

Make your site the narrative hub

ENS provides the name, the NFT provides the face, but your personal website provides the narrative. It’s the ultimate source of truth and the command center for your identity, free from any platform’s control.

Using a static site generator like Hugo, you can build a minimal and verifiable identity hub:

  • The Homepage is your digital handshake.
  • A /proof page is your digital dossier, consolidating all on-chain evidence.
  • A /gallery page offers the visual proof.
  • The /blog is where you build authority and trust by sharing your expertise.

From Components to a Cohesive Self

We are in an era where verifiable reputation is the new currency. A random username is fleeting, but a well-constructed digital identity is a sovereign, persistent asset.

It begins with a name, is represented by a face, and is explained by a story. ENS gives you the name, your NFT gives you the face, and your personal site gives you the voice to tell your story. This is how “avatar = me” becomes more than a slogan—it becomes your proof.