Ethereum Name Service (ENS) Expands with Layer-2 Blockchain
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Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is gearing up to take its decentralized identity system to the next level. The platform is set to launch its own Layer-2 blockchain, dubbed “Namechain,” which will leverage a zero-knowledge rollup for enhanced scalability and efficiency. This strategic move is expected to bolster ENS’s capabilities and further solidify its position in the Web3 ecosystem.
Ethereum Name Service (ENS) to Launch Dedicated Layer-2 Network, “Namechain”
The team behind ENS, a service that translates crypto wallet addresses into human-readable names (like Vitalik.eth), is developing its own layer-2 blockchain solution called Namechain. This new network is expected to launch by the end of 2025 and will utilize zero-knowledge rollups, a technology that speeds up transactions and reduces costs by processing them off the main Ethereum network.
According to a recent press release, Namechain will leverage an existing zero-knowledge chain compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). The specific zkEVM provider is still under selection. Notably, ENSv2, the upcoming overhaul of the ENS protocol, will be fully integrated with Namechain, ensuring seamless user experience with lower transaction fees from launch.
This move by ENS aligns with a broader trend within the crypto industry. Several major players, including Uniswap, Kraken, and Sony’s Blockchain Labs, have announced plans for their own layer-2 projects using Optimism’s OP Stack technology. However, ENS has opted for zero-knowledge rollups, potentially offering different advantages in terms of scalability and privacy.
ENS co-founder and lead developer Nick Johnson expressed his enthusiasm for Namechain in the press release, highlighting the improvements in scalability, cost, and potential for new applications it will bring to the ENS ecosystem.
The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) protocol, founded in 2017, aims to simplify the complex world of cryptocurrency addresses by mapping them to human-readable names. While currently operating as smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain, ENS is poised to upgrade to a layer-2 solution to enhance scalability and privacy.
After careful consideration of various layer-2 technologies, the ENS team has decided to utilize zero-knowledge rollups. This technology, which leverages zero-knowledge proofs, offers significant advantages in terms of transaction speed, cost-efficiency, and privacy. The team is exploring the possibility of building on Matter Labs’ ZK Stack, a customizable toolkit that enables developers to create their own chains based on zkSync’s technology.
Privacy and security were paramount factors in the decision-making process. The ENS DAO will now vote on the proposed upgrade, and once approved, the team will embark on the development phase. The transition to a layer-2 solution is expected to take approximately two months.
