ENSv2 Launches on Ethereum Mainnet: Hierarchical Registry & Permission Upgrades Reshape 36M Domain Ecosystem

ENSv2 Goes Live: Ethereum Name Service Embraces Hierarchical Architecture

The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) has deployed its long-anticipated v2 upgrade onto the Ethereum mainnet. This release represents a foundational overhaul of the protocol's registry design and permission framework.

Key Innovations: Layered Registry & Granular Permissions

At the heart of ENSv2 is a new hierarchical registry system. This structure moves beyond the original flat registry, granting domain owners enhanced control over their namespace.

Customizable Issuance Rules: Owners can now define registration conditions, fee structures, and expiration policies for subdomains, enabling more dynamic domain asset management.
Compartmentalized Authorization: The updated permission model allows different administrative rights—such as updating records or creating subdomains—to be delegated to separate addresses, facilitating team-based management.

Seamless Migration & Ecosystem Readiness

Existing .eth domain holders can upgrade voluntarily through the new ENS App, with no requirement to re-register. As an incentive, users who complete the migration will receive a commemorative NFT designed by artist Polyhop.

The ENS ecosystem, which now spans over 36 million registered names across more than 600 integrated applications, has shown rapid adoption. Major wallets and DeFi protocols like 1inch, MetaMask, Safe, and Uniswap, alongside platforms such as PayPal, Venmo, and OpenSea, have already implemented support for ENSv2's new capabilities.

The launch is accompanied by the release of ENS Explorer, a tool offering improved visualization and management of domain hierarchies.

Implications for Web3 Identity & Asset Management

ENSv2 marks a shift for decentralized naming services from simple address resolution toward programmable digital identity infrastructure. The addition of hierarchical control and granular permissions opens up advanced use cases for DAOs, branded subdomain distribution, and multisig asset management, laying stronger groundwork for Web3 at scale.