Back

Vitalik backs ENS (Ethereum Name Service) v2 on Ethereum amid L2 (Layer-2 scaling network) Namechain halt

ENS COO Katherine Wu confirms v2 will focus on Ethereum L1 with new registries and testnet apps, while retaining cross-chain support for decentralized identity solutions.

ETH
ENS

Summary

ENS COO Katherine Wu announced that ENS v2 will be deployed exclusively on Ethereum L1, ending the planned Layer-2 Namechain project. The upgrade introduces dedicated registries for each .eth domain and launches two new applications now available on the testnet. Despite the shift away from L2 for core data storage, the system will maintain cross-chain support and uphold existing protocol objectives. Vitalik Buterin previously supported this approach, emphasizing that ENS data should remain on L1 while L2 can handle user operations such as decentralized identity and social use cases.

Terms & Concepts
  • Layer-2 (L2) scaling network: A secondary blockchain or rollup that processes transactions off the base chain to increase throughput and reduce fees, then settles back to L1.
  • L1 (base blockchain layer): The primary blockchain that provides security and final settlement for Layer-2 systems and on-chain data.
  • Decentralized identity: A model where users control their identifiers and credentials on blockchain, enabling self-sovereign ID without centralized issuers.