Ethereum Name Service is asking its DAO to approve activation of ENSv2, a redesigned version of its naming protocol for Ethereum mainnet. The proposal would move new .eth registrations to an upgraded system and complete a shift in governance by handing remaining administrative control of the new contracts to the DAO.
The plan is not yet final. The activation proposal remains in draft form and would still need to pass an on-chain DAO vote before any change takes effect.
What the upgrade would change
ENSv2 is described as a redesign of the registry architecture that underpins the naming system. According to the proposal, the new setup is intended to offer more flexible domain management and permissions than the current design.
If the upgrade is approved and executed, new .eth registrations would ultimately be handled through the upgraded system rather than the original ENS registrar. ENS Labs also plans to transfer its remaining administrative control over the upgraded contracts to the DAO as part of the activation process.
How the transition would work
The switch would not affect existing name holders in the same way as new registrations. During the transition, the original registrar would stop accepting new .eth registrations while ENS synchronizes domain records to the upgraded system.
That interruption is expected to last several hours. Once the records are synchronized, new registrations would reopen on ENSv2.
Existing holders would still be able to renew their names during the changeover, and they would not be required to migrate immediately. ENS Labs said existing .eth names have been reserved for current owners on the upgraded system, allowing them to migrate later when they choose.
Impact on current ENS users
For current domain holders, the proposal is designed to preserve continuity rather than force a sudden move. Existing names would continue functioning normally even if their owners take no action at first.
The distinction in the proposal is between maintaining current registrations and opening new ones. Renewals would remain available, while only new registrations would be paused for the record-sync period tied to activation.
What needs to happen next
Before ENSv2 can be activated on mainnet, the draft proposal must advance to an on-chain DAO vote. Under ENS DAO rules described in the proposal, an executable measure needs at least 1% voter participation, equal to 1 million ENS votes, along with majority approval over a seven-day voting period.
Even if those conditions are met, execution would still be subject to a minimum two-day timelock. No date for the vote has been announced, so the main confirmed next step is for the proposal to move from draft status into the DAO’s formal voting process.
Source: cointelegraph.com