Ethereum Name Service and Namechain

Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is set to launch its own Layer 2 network named Namechain using a software stack from Linea.

ENS, which simplifies address resolution on blockchains, opted for Linea due to its Type 2 zkEVM technology. This allows Namechain to maintain compatibility with Ethereum’s existing smart contracts and tools.

According to ENS, Linea was the first Layer 2 team to create a trust-minimized version of ERC-3668, which facilitates decentralized cross-chain name resolution for subnames.

Linea is backed by Consensys, an Ethereum research and development firm.

This development is part of an upgrade known as ENSv2, the second version of ENS introduced earlier this year. ENSv2 transitions primary .eth domain activities to Layer 2 for improved flexibility and affordability. While domain registrations and renewals will be managed on Namechain, name resolution will stay on Ethereum Layer 1.

Overall, ENS’s Layer 2 approach is anticipated to handle increased transaction throughput, enabling higher volumes of registrations and renewals.