# From Names to Namespaces: When the Reader Is a Machine | Jeff Lau at Pragma Tokyo 2026

- Speakers: [Jeff Lau](https://streameth.org/speakers/jeff-lau)
- Channel: [ETHGlobal](https://streameth.org/ethglobal)
- Date: 2026-10-26
- Duration: 17:48
- Topics: ETHGlobal, Pragma Tokyo 2026, Pragma Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 2026, Jeff Lau, ENS, ENS Domains, ENSv2, Ethereum Name Service, Ethereum naming, namespaces, AI agents, agent identity, machine identity, onchain identity, verifiable identity, cryptographic trust, wallet addresses, human readable addresses, agent payments, x402, stablecoins, API services, delegated permissions, subnames, smart contracts, Science & Technology
- Watch: https://streameth.org/watch/yt-AFJvBA06Wcg
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFJvBA06Wcg

## Description

ENS Co-founder and CTO Jeff Lau explains why names become critical when machines hold keys, spend money, and interact with strangers. ENS replaced unreadable Ethereum addresses with human-readable names, but agentic systems require more than labels. A verifiable name can identify who controls an agent, where it can be reached, what permissions it has, and what records sit behind it. Social handles, Jack Butcher’s onchain artwork, company email domains, and service subscriptions show how names carry reputation and establish cryptographic trust.

ENS namespaces let companies issue temporary names to thousands of agents while preserving accountability, rotating keys, and limiting authority. ENSv2 adds per-name registries, delegated issuance, constrained roles, and expirations without breaking existing resolution. Lau encourages builders to name agents, API providers to publish endpoints and terms through ENS records, and wallets to resolve names when displaying addresses. As models and keys change, durable namespaces can connect each machine to an identity others already trust.

00:00 Introduction and the Purpose of Names
01:37 Blockchains Turned Addresses Into Identity
02:17 How ENS Added Names to Ethereum
02:54 Ownership and Verifiable Naming
03:20 What Centralized Names Can Lose
05:01 Machines Are Becoming Economic Actors
06:24 Names as Structured Inputs
06:48 Jack Butcher and Verifiable Provenance
08:02 Brands, Reputation, and Chains of Trust
09:21 Namespaces Work Like Company Email
10:15 Trusting Roots Across Thousands of Agents
10:49 Identity and Context for Agent Services
11:13 Agent Payments and Company Subscriptions
13:16 The Missing Conventions for Agent Names
14:05 ENSv2 Delegation and Constrained Roles
15:52 Three Actions Builders Can Take Today
16:40 Durable Names for Short-Lived Machines

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  

🇯🇵 *Pragma Tokyo 2026*
Pragma Tokyo 2026 was held on September 25th at the Toranomon Hills Forum in Tokyo, Japan and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Tokyo 2026 YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT7ZDw43Z98U

ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  

✅ Follow Jeff Lau
X: https://x.com/Jefflau

✅ Follow ENS Domains
X: https://x.com/ensdomains

✅ Follow ETHGlobal
X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​
Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal
Website: https://ethglobal.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  

Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?
👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events
🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus
📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city