The Ethereum Name Service (ENS), the leading decentralized domain name and identity protocol built on the Ethereum blockchain, is taking a major step toward its next operational evolution. Core contributors are now seeking formal approval from the project’s decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) to activate an upgraded naming protocol directly on the Ethereum mainnet, marking a milestone in the platform’s long-term scaling and structural roadmap.
Nick Johnson, the founder and lead developer of ENS, formally submitted an executable draft proposal to the community to activate ENSv2, which represents the next major generation of the protocol. If the decentralized community votes to approve the measure, the upgrade will trigger a series of significant structural shifts across the network. Most notably, the activation would freeze new domain registrations on the original ENS registrar contract, while simultaneously allowing existing domain holders to continue renewing their human-readable names without disruption.
The introduction of ENSv2 is designed to overhaul the underlying architecture of the protocol. Specifically, the upgrade introduces a redesigned registry framework intended to provide more flexible domain management capabilities and enhanced permissions for users and developers alike. Furthermore, as part of the transition toward complete decentralization, ENS Labs has outlined plans to permanently transfer its remaining administrative control over the newly upgraded smart contracts directly to the DAO once the implementation process has concluded.
According to the technical details outlined in the proposal, new registrations ending in the familiar .eth extension would eventually transition over to the upgraded system, but only after domain records and states have been fully and securely synchronized between the legacy architecture and the new contracts. In his submission, Johnson cautioned the community that during the transitional phase, new domain registrations would be temporarily unavailable on either version of the protocol for a window lasting several hours while engineers and automated systems execute the synchronization and activation process.
For the existing user base, the protocol upgrade is designed to be as non-intrusive as possible. Existing domain holders are not required to migrate their assets immediately, and their current names will continue to function normally across the broader Web3 ecosystem, according to the proposal text. To ensure a seamless user experience, ENS Labs has reserved existing .eth names for their current rightful owners on the upgraded system, granting users the freedom and flexibility to migrate their assets whenever they feel ready to do so.
At this stage, the activation proposal remains firmly in the draft stage of the governance lifecycle. Before any code can be deployed or changes enacted on the mainnet, the proposal must successfully advance through the community discussion phase and proceed to an official onchain DAO vote.
Under the established governance rules governing the Ethereum Name Service, executable proposals of this magnitude are subject to strict participation and approval thresholds. Specifically, the rules require at least 1 percent voter participation—representing a minimum threshold of 1 million ENS governance votes—alongside a clear majority of approval from participating voters during a mandatory seven-day voting period. Should the proposal successfully clear this hurdle and secure majority approval from the DAO, the upgrade will still be subjected to a mandatory minimum two-day timelock period before the code can be officially executed on the mainnet. As of the submission of the draft, an official voting date has not yet been announced by the core team or community representatives.
