ENS announced Feb. 6 that it will deploy ENSv2 exclusively on Ethereum L1 and cease development of its planned Namechain layer 2, saying recent Ethereum scaling — including a fusaka-driven gas limit increase to 60 million and a 99% drop in ENS registration gas costs over the past year — made L1 the preferable platform.
ENS to Deploy ENSv2 Exclusively on Ethereum, Halts Namechain L2 Development
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In a blog post by lead developer nick.eth, ENS said the decision preserves ENSv2 features such as single-step registration, multi-chain asset purchases, and a redesigned registry while reducing trust and centralization risks introduced by running a dedicated L2.
The post said the move does not change the ENSv2 roadmap, with the ENS App and ENS Explorer in public alpha and the new registry architecture, ownership model, and name-expiration handling still scheduled to ship; ENS also said the lighter L1 costs could enable future gas subsidies for .eth holders and that ENSv2 will remain interoperable with more than 60 blockchains and L2s where appropriate.
Read More: Ethereum’s L2 Scaling Story Gets a Rewrite From Vitalik Buterin
FAQ 🧭
- Why is ENS abandoning Namechain? — ENS cited faster-than-expected Ethereum L1 scaling, much lower gas costs, and the added trust and operational complexity of running an L2 as reasons to stop Namechain development.
- How will this affect ENS users in the U.S. and globally? — Users worldwide will use ENSv2 on Ethereum L1 with streamlined single-step registration and support for assets from multiple EVM chains without relying on a separate Namechain.
- Will .eth resolution still work with other blockchains like Bitcoin or Solana? — Yes; ENSv2 is designed for interoperability and ENS said it will continue supporting resolution for more than 60 blockchains including Bitcoin and Solana.
- When can users test the new system? — ENS said the ENS App and ENS Explorer are in public alpha as of early February 2026 and users can begin testing the new registration and management flows.
