The Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation and ENS Labs are exploring how to link ENS names to verifiable Legal Entity Identifiers, or vLEIs. Instead of depending solely on wallet addresses, the proposed approach might enable applications to verify the company behind an on-chain name.

ENS and GLEIF are still developing a standard that might provide institutions with a uniform way to validate organisational accounts and counterparties across evolving onchain infrastructure.

ENS Names Could Connect to Verified Legal Identities

A Legal Entity Identifier is a legally recognised identity that is used globally. Organisations and their authorised representatives can establish identity and authority in ways that can be computationally verified due to the vLEI, which extends that identity into a digitally verifiable format.

The operation of ENS is unique. An ENS name provides an organisation with a durable on-chain reference even when its underlying infrastructure changes by pointing to addresses and other data needed by wallets and applications across networks.

The proposed link connects those functions. The verified organisational identification underlying the ENS name would be provided by the vLEI, while the ENS name would serve as the persistent on-chain reference. A counterparty or application may be able to verify whether an organisation genuinely approved the connection through a signed association between the two.

This is important since one organisation may use different providers, run multiple wallets, or deploy over several networks. It's not always clear from an address alone whose legal entity is using it.

ENS Standard Could Create a Consistent Verification Method

To link external identifiers, such as ENS names, with an organization's vLEI, GLEIF has been working on a method-agnostic approach. It is expected that an ENS Improvement Proposal, or ENSIP, will be used to design the ENS-specific implementation.

For the ENS ecosystem, ENSIPs offer public technical standards. Instead of requiring each integration to develop its own approach, the proposed ENSIP would specify how the ENS side of the association operates, providing institutions and other participants with a common implementation.

The duties would continue to be different. While GLEIF's current vLEI governance system would continue to handle the issuance, governance, and verification of vLEI credentials, ENS would handle the association with the ENS name.

ENS Labs and @GLEIF are exploring how organizations can link their ENS name to a verifiable Legal Entity Identifier (vLEI), creating one persistent, verifiable identity onchain.

Learn more ⤵https://t.co/bS9LtnLWm1

— ens.eth (@ensdomains) September 28, 2026

Counterparty Risk & Tokenization Are Key Use Cases

The suggested identity link may be particularly vital when companies use several on-chain accounts for transactions. An institution might create a permanent reference to the relevant legal entity by using the ENS name and its associated vLEI, rather than just assessing the address receiving payment.

Another area that the collaboration highlights is asset tokenisation. Even if the underlying infrastructure changes, the ENS and vLEI relationship could offer a stable link between the onchain asset and the organization in charge of it when institutions issue tokenized funds, securities, or other assets.

The authenticity of organisational accounts could be handled using the same method. Anyone has the ability to represent a company by creating a wallet or smart contract. Applications and counterparties would be able to independently confirm the organisation making the claim and, if relevant, the authority of individuals operating on its behalf if an ENS name was linked to a vLEI.

ENS & GLEIF Continue Development Ahead of Sibos 2026

The ENS standard has not yet been finalised based on the proposal. The standards are still being refined by ENS Labs and GLEIF, who are also discussing the approach's potential in production settings with various institutions.

Additionally, the groups will be attending Sibos 2026, where they intend to carry on the conversation on verifiable and trustworthy organisational identities for onchain-moving enterprises.

The overarching goal is to link ENS names to established legal identity infrastructure and make them useful as long-term references for companies. Using ENS for the on-chain name and vLEI for the organization's verifiable legal identity, an application might verify both sides of the association under the suggested approach.

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