ENS Seeks DAO Approval to Activate Upgraded Ethereum Naming System
Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is requesting approval from its decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) to activate ENSv2, an upgraded naming protocol on Ethereum mainnet. Upon approval, new domain registrations on the original ENS registrar will be frozen while existing domain holders can continue renewing their names. The upgrade includes a redesigned registry architecture with enhanced domain management and permissions and plans to transfer administrative control to the DAO.
Proposal and Technical Changes
ENS founder Nick Johnson has submitted an executable proposal to activate ENSv2, the next version of the Ethereum naming protocol. Under the upgrade, new registrations on the original ENS registrar will be frozen, while existing domain owners will retain the ability to renew their names.
The upgrade introduces a redesigned registry architecture to offer more flexible domain management and permission settings. Following activation, ENS Labs intends to transfer remaining administrative controls over the upgraded contracts to the DAO.
Transition to the Upgraded System
New .eth domain registrations will shift to the upgraded system once domain records are fully synchronized. Johnson has cautioned that new registrations will be temporarily unavailable on both the legacy and updated systems for several hours during the transition process.
Existing domain owners are not required to migrate and their domains will continue to operate normally as per the current setup. ENS Labs has reserved existing .eth names for current holders in the upgraded system, enabling them to migrate at their discretion.
DAO Voting Process
The activation proposal remains in draft form and must advance to an onchain vote within the ENS DAO for implementation.
ENS governance rules stipulate that executable proposals require a minimum of 1% voter turnout, equating to about 1 million votes, during a seven-day voting period with a majority approval threshold.
If passed, the upgrade will be subject to a mandatory minimum two-day timelock prior to execution. The voting date has not yet been announced.
Why it matters
This news marks a significant milestone in the evolution of ENS, a critical infrastructure component within the Ethereum ecosystem that enables convenient naming alternatives to cryptographic addresses. The ENSv2 upgrade promises a revamped architecture and enhanced domain management capabilities, improving security and user flexibility. Transferring administrative control to the DAO reinforces decentralization and community trust. The careful transition plan, including a temporary freeze on new registrations, seeks to balance existing user interests and minimize disruption. The final approval via DAO voting exemplifies democratic governance over key protocol changes. Overall, this represents a progressive step toward a more resilient and functional naming system on Ethereum.
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