ENS Labs Launches ENSv2 on Ethereum, Cuts Name Recovery Period from 90 to 28 Days
Key Facts
ENS Labs announced the availability of the ENSv2 protocol on the Ethereum mainnet on October 27, 2026, alongside the launch of the ENS app and ENS Explorer. The update changes how names are organized and managed, and shortens the grace period after a name expires from 90 days under the previous system to 28 days. The company said existing names will continue to work without being re-registered, and owners of .eth names can upgrade them through the ENS app if they choose. To avoid reducing the effective period for existing names, 62 days are added to a name’s expiration date when it is upgraded. This makes expiration management one of the main practical changes name holders face as they move to ENSv2.
The new architecture uses hierarchical records, allowing each name to function as an on-chain record, with more granular permissions and the ability to link records for sharing. This structure allows subdomains to be managed differently from the approach described in the initial version as individual records for subnames. ENS Labs says the architecture could allow communities and companies to organize their products under names they control. Each name can also be linked to the contracts, documents and details that applications need to find. The launch comes as the ecosystem supports more than 36 million names across .eth and other domains, and more than 600 applications support resolving those names.
The rules for handling an expired name change in ENSv2: ENS says a name cannot be resolved, transferred or edited during the new grace period. The name can be renewed at the usual annual price during that period, and after 28 days, a 21-day price premium period begins. The shorter grace period is offset by an extension of 62 days for existing names when they are upgraded, preserving the previous grace-period expiration date. The upgrade therefore involves more than a change to the technical architecture; it also affects expiration dates and the options available to a name holder after it expires. ENS also offers discounts for multi-year registrations, starting at 12.5% for two years, reaching about 31% for 3 to 5 years, and about 44% for 6 years or more.
According to ENS Labs, the average gas fee to register an ENS name fell to less than 5 cents in February 2026, compared with about $5 a year earlier. The comparison provides context on the cost of registering on the network as the new system launches, while gas fees remain payable when claiming the commemorative card associated with the launch. The card is optional, and eligibility to claim it is based on a snapshot taken on June 1, 2026, with a maximum of one card per eligible address. The address must upgrade all eligible, migratable names it holds to reveal the card. The company says claiming requires payment of gas fees, but the card is not a requirement for using ENSv2.
The card collection assigns rarity according to the length of the name, excluding the .eth extension: three characters for the Elemental tier, four for Rare, five for Uncommon, and six or more for Common. The card design takes five attributes into account, and name holders can preview them before minting and claim the card later. ENS Labs said the timing of the mint does not change the design or rarity, stating: "Minting earlier does not change the artwork or rarity." On governance, the proposal to activate ENSv2 in the DAO recorded 1.69 million votes in favor and 24.94 votes against, exceeding a quorum of 1 million votes. The proposal calls for new .eth registrations to move to the ENSv2 registrar, while non-migrated names remain renewable through a dedicated contract, and administrative roles on the version-two contracts transfer to the DAO after activation.