The Ethereum Name Service has confirmed that ENSv2 will be deployed on Ethereum’s base layer, ending development of its proposed Namechain layer-2 network. According to ENS contributors, recent improvements in Ethereum’s scalability and cost structure have eliminated the original need for a dedicated ENS Layer-2.
In comments , Vitalik Buterin said ENS names and records show a high-value state that benefits from being directly accessible on Ethereum L1. He described ENS as a semi-financial application with high network importance, arguing that Ethereum’s expanded scaling plan makes L1 the most suitable settlement layer for identity-related systems.
ENS core contributor Katherine Wu confirmed that ENSv2 will still launch as planned, but without Namechain. She stated that ENSv2 remains an upgrade to the existing ENS protocol and does not alter the project’s mission to serve as Ethereum’s identity layer. The underlying design, she noted, was built to function on either L1 or L2.
According to Wu, deploying on L1 simplifies name resolution by removing the need to query multiple chains. It also avoids reliance on CCIP-Read gateways that would have been required under the original Namechain plan.
The shift follows major changes to Ethereum’s capacity. Gas limits increased from 30 million to 60 million in 2025, with developers targeting higher limits in 2026. ENS data shows that average gas costs for ENS registrations have fallen by about 99% over the past year, dropping from several dollars to just a few cents.
Wu said these reductions materially changed the cost comparison between operating an independent L2 and using Ethereum L1 directly. She added that, at current prices, subsidizing ENS transactions on L1 would cost less than maintaining Namechain’s infrastructure.
Despite the infrastructure change, ENSv2 functionality remains intact. The upgrade introduces a new registry model that gives each name its own registry, improved handling of ownership and expiration, and a simplified registration process. The new ENS App and ENS Explorer interfaces have already entered public alpha testing.
Wu also reiterated that ENS will continue to support resolution across more than 60 blockchains, including Bitcoin and Solana, and that users will be able to register .eth names from any EVM chain through a single workflow.
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