Ethereum Name Service has proposed activating ENSv2 without requiring existing .eth domain holders to migrate to the new system.

The Oct. 11 proposal would let users keep their current names indefinitely, as long as they keep renewing them, while offering a permanent migration option for those who want access to upgraded features.

Once activated, ENSv2 would handle all new .eth registrations, replacing the existing registration infrastructure. Holders who migrate would permanently transfer management of their domains to the new system, with no mechanism for returning their original tokens.

The proposal remains subject to approval by the ENS decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), whose Oct. 12 governance bulletin listed the vote as pending. ENS has not announced a launch date.

The upgrade would replace ENS's existing registry, introduced in 2017, with a hierarchical structure that allows individual domains to maintain separate registries for their subdomains.

The changes would give owners more flexibility in assigning permissions, letting businesses and decentralized applications delegate responsibility for specific names or records without giving up broader control.

During the migration, an owner's existing ENSv1 token would move into a smart contract known as the Graveyard, which cannot return or transfer the tokens it receives.

However, users who choose to remain on ENSv1 would keep access to their domains and continue renewing them through a dedicated contract that also preserves their ENSv2 reservations.

From an on-chain analytics and liquidity distribution perspective, developments around "Ethereum Name Service plans major .eth overhaul with one irreversible catch for domain holders" signal important shifts in network participation. Market participants observe that derivative funding metrics, exchange reserve telemetry, and smart contract protocol interactions reflect cautious accumulation alongside disciplined risk hedging across the sector.

Technical research analysts at CryptoAce VIP note that high-density order book clusters and volume-weighted average price (VWAP) benchmarks near recent consolidation floors will serve as pivotal indicators. Market observers are advised to cross-examine telemetry on verified block explorers before making capital allocations.

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