ENS Asks DAO to Flip the Switch on ENSv2 — Name Game Gets a Sequel 🎭

Ethereum Name Service is asking its decentralized autonomous organization to greenlight the activation of ENSv2, the next version of its naming protocol on the Ethereum mainnet. ENS founder Nick Johnson submitted an executable draft proposal to begin the upgrade process, which remains in draft stage and must advance to an onchain DAO vote before any implementation.

If approved, the upgrade would freeze new registrations on the original ENS registrar while letting existing domain holders keep renewing their names. New .eth registrations would shift to the upgraded system once domain records have been synchronized, and Johnson warned that new registrations would be temporarily unavailable on either version for several hours during the transition. Existing .eth names are not required to migrate and would continue functioning normally, with ENS Labs reserving those names for their current owners on the upgraded system so users can move over when ready.

The proposal introduces a redesigned registry architecture aimed at more flexible domain management and permissions. After activation, ENS Labs plans to hand over its remaining administrative control over the upgraded contracts to the DAO, further decentralizing oversight of the protocol.

Under ENS governance rules, executable proposals require at least 1% voter participation, representing 1 million ENS votes, along with majority approval during a seven-day voting period. If the DAO signs off, the upgrade would be subject to a minimum two-day timelock before execution, and a voting date has not yet been announced.