ENS DAO Asked to Approve ENSv2 Activation

Ethereum Name Service founder Nick Johnson has submitted a draft proposal asking the ENS DAO to activate ENSv2, an upgraded naming protocol on the Ethereum mainnet. No date has been announced for a vote.

If approved, the upgrade would freeze new registrations through the original ENS registrar while allowing current .eth domain holders to renew their names. New registrations would move to ENSv2 after domain records are synchronized.

ENSv2 would use a redesigned registry architecture with more flexible tools for managing domains and permissions. After activation, ENS Labs plans to transfer its remaining administrative control over the upgraded contracts to the DAO.

New registrations on both versions of the protocol would be unavailable for several hours during the transition. Existing domain holders would not have to migrate, and their names would continue to function normally. ENS Labs has reserved existing .eth names for their current owners in ENSv2, allowing users to migrate later.

The proposal remains in the draft stage and must advance to an executable onchain DAO vote. ENS governance rules require at least 1% participation, equal to 1 million ENS votes, and majority approval from participating voters during a seven-day voting period.

If approved, the proposal would face a minimum two-day timelock before the upgrade could be activated.