ENS v2: Redefining Ethereum Name Service?

Author: 0XNATALIE

Yesterday, ENS Labs announced the launch of the ENS v2 initiative, aiming to expand Ethereum Name Service (ENS) to Layer 2. By migrating core functionalities to Layer 2, the update seeks to reduce gas fees significantly. The ENS team has been exploring Layer 2 integration since 2020, progressing from standardizing L2-ENS interfaces to developing dedicated L2 solutions—a topic of ongoing discussion within the community.

ENS has garnered substantial attention, including strong endorsement from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin. In an Ethereum developer survey, Vitalik explicitly stated he uses ENS to manage his identity on the Status app, calling it "one of the most successful non-financial applications." He further advocated for Layer 2 networks to integrate CCIP resolvers, enabling seamless ENS subdomain registration and management directly on L2.

What Is ENS?

ENS is a decentralized, open, and extensible naming system built on Ethereum. It translates human-readable names (e.g., example.eth) into machine-readable identifiers like wallet addresses, content hashes, and metadata. Key features include:

• Reverse Resolution: Query metadata linked to an Ethereum address.
• Simplified Transactions: Replace complex addresses with memorable domains for payments and dApp interactions.
• Decentralized Ownership: .eth domains are minted as NFTs via smart contracts, ensuring trustless ownership.

👉 Explore ENS domains

ENS v2 Upgrades

ENS v2 represents a foundational redesign, introducing:

1. Lower Gas Costs: Migrating .eth registration/renewal to Layer 2 slashes fees by ~90%.

2. Hierarchical Registry System:

   • Each .eth domain gets a personalized registry storing ownership history and subdomain settings.
   • Enhanced user control over domain management.

3. Cross-Chain Interoperability:

   • CCIP-Read Gateways enable .eth resolution across blockchains.
   • Trustless connectivity between networks via compatible resolvers.

The team is evaluating whether to adopt existing Layer 2 solutions or build a custom L2, with a detailed migration roadmap and funding proposal to ENS DAO forthcoming.

FAQ

Q: Will ENS v2 affect existing .eth domains?
A: No. Current domains remain functional; v2 adds optional L2 features.

Q: How does Layer 2 improve ENS scalability?
A: By offloading transactions from Ethereum mainnet, L2 processes registrations faster/cheaper.

Q: Can I use ENS v2 with non-EVM chains?
A: Yes! CCIP-Read support extends .eth usability to chains like Solana via gateways.

👉 Learn about blockchain naming systems

Note: Original publication date and platform attribution removed per guidelines.

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