ENSv2’s Namechain and L2 Primary Names reset Web3 UX

The news: ENS identity steps onto Layer 2

The Ethereum Name Service just put Web3 identity on a new track. In late August 2025, the team published a detailed migration plan for ENSv2 that explains how almost every existing name can move into the new architecture and how name owners can optionally relocate management to a dedicated Layer 2 called Namechain. The plan estimates coverage for 99.99 percent of names, with 98.8 percent eligible to move to Namechain if owners want lower fees and faster management. Read the migration blueprint in the forum post titled detailed migration plan for ENSv2.

At the same time, ENS has turned on L2 Primary Names across major rollups. Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, Linea, and others can now display names natively for addresses on their own network. For users, this means your name can show up correctly in the wallet you actually use, not just on Ethereum mainnet. For developers, it removes the guesswork of which chain to check when you want a verified name for an address.

This is more than an upgrade. It is a step function in user experience. ENS is building Namechain so registrations and profile updates cost a fraction of Layer 1, and the protocol now treats identity as multichain by default. That combination is how you turn a power user feature into something regular people can trust. For context on how the L1 vs L2 calculus is shifting, see our view on how the L1 vs L2 playbook is changing.

L2 Primary Names, explained in one minute

Think of your ENS name as your digital contact card, and think of each chain like a different cell network. Until now, your name mostly broadcast on one network. With L2 Primary Names, your card shows up correctly on each network you use.

Two things must match for a primary name to be valid:

• Forward resolution. The name points to an address for the chain in question.
• Reverse resolution. The address points back to the same name on that chain.

When both are true, wallets and apps can safely show the name instead of a hex string. ENS defines a Default Primary Name on Ethereum mainnet that acts as a fallback. If you do not set a Base‑specific or Arbitrum‑specific primary name, apps can still show your default. If you do set one per network, the network‑specific name takes priority. That lets a developer or brand use different names per chain if needed while keeping a single, reliable default.

A simple example:

• You set myname.eth to your Base address and also set a Base Primary Name. Apps on Base can show myname.eth without asking mainnet anything.
• You do nothing on Linea. Apps on Linea will fall back to your Default Primary Name from Ethereum mainnet and still display myname.eth if your records are consistent.

If you have different contract addresses per chain, you can keep one name across them or assign different names per network. It works like having one legal name and a few store‑specific usernames that still map back to you.

What Namechain changes

ENS is building a dedicated rollup for identity operations. The idea is simple. Keep trust anchored to Ethereum, but move routine name actions to a purpose‑built environment with near zero gas for updates and instant finality for registrations. The chain is designed to be L2‑agnostic and to interoperate with the rollups people already use. That matters because it reduces the number of times users have to context‑switch between networks just to manage a profile. This also aligns with the broader shift as permissionless L2 proofs expand.

Why a dedicated chain instead of living inside an existing rollup? Control of the stack lets the protocol hardwire identity‑specific features. For example, it can prioritize L2‑to‑L2 bridging flows that carry identity updates alongside assets, and it can price and schedule transactions for the needs of names rather than the needs of trading activity. The result should feel like a first‑party identity service with Ethereum security and Web3 portability.

What developers should implement now

Below is a practical, order‑of‑operations implementation guide. It assumes you already resolve names on Ethereum, but you have not fully adopted the multichain model.

1. Adopt ENSIP‑19 for primary names

• Use the chain’s coin type when resolving forward and reverse. The spec formalizes how to derive a reverse namespace per chain and how to verify that the name and address match on that chain. It also defines a Default Primary Name on L1 as the fallback. Start by reading ENSIP‑19: Multichain Primary Names and copy its two‑phase verification: reverse check to get the candidate name, then forward check to prove the address matches.
• Do not hardcode reverse registrar addresses. Resolve them by name as described in the spec so you are resilient to upgrades.
• Normalize names before display. If normalize("Nick.eth") is not equal to "nick.eth", treat the reverse result as invalid until corrected. This prevents spoofing and avoids messy edge cases.

2. Implement cross‑chain reverse lookups

• Query the reverse record on the chain the user is actually using. If your app is connected to Base, call the Base reverse namespace first. Fall back to the Default Primary Name on L1 only if no network‑specific record exists.
• Always verify forward resolution. After you obtain a name from reverse lookup, resolve that name’s address for the same coin type and verify it equals the address you are displaying. Show the name only if checks pass.
• Cache with care. Cache reverse lookups per chain with short time‑to‑live values. Do not reuse a Base result when the user switches to Arbitrum in the same session.

3. Upgrade your resolver assumptions

• Support multichain addresses in your profile editors. When a user edits records for their name, give them explicit fields for Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, Linea, and others, plus a Default Address fallback. Save the default once, then store network‑specific overrides only where needed. This mirrors how ENS resolvers treat default and coin‑specific addresses.
• Prefer resolvers that understand default addresses. Some legacy resolvers do not implement default‑address fallback for coin types. If your app deploys or recommends a resolver, choose one that implements the behavior described in the spec. If you cannot upgrade immediately, set the same address for each chain the user cares about so the old resolver behaves like default‑aware logic.
• Prepare for smart account addresses. As more users adopt account abstraction, they will have different addresses per chain. Make sure your profile and address book models can hold multiple addresses per name. For a deeper dive on this shift, see the smart account adoption trend.

4. Update UI and QA routines

• Surface Primary Name status in settings. Show whether the current chain is using a network‑specific primary name or the default. Include a simple troubleshooting panel that points users to set forward records if reverse is present but incomplete.
• Add a names‑first contact picker. When the reverse record is valid, show the name first and the hex address second. When it is not, show the hex first. Communicate the reason in plain language.
• Test your flows on Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Linea. Sync times differ across networks. Handle "syncing" and "resolved from default" states without blocking a checkout or transfer.

What brands and wallets should do this quarter

If you operate a wallet, marketplace, or brand community with subnames, the new model lets you offer a clearer identity from the first session. Here is a simple plan to ship in one sprint.

• Wallets

  • On connect, call reverse on the active chain before anything else. If the result is empty, ask the user to set a Primary Name with a one‑click path. If the reverse returns a name that fails forward verification, show a fix button that writes the correct forward address.
  • In your contact book, group all addresses under the verified primary name per chain. When the user switches networks, contacts should automatically display the name that is valid for that network.
  • During send flows, resolve the recipient name for the current chain’s coin type before building the transaction. Refuse to show a green checkmark until the forward record matches.

• Brands and platforms

  • Migrate your organization’s primary names first. Set Default Primary Names for your main accounts on L1. Then add network primary names on the chains where you run programs or contracts.
  • If you issue subnames to members, define which chain is authoritative for registration and which chains should show a primary name by default. Document it. Members should not guess where their name will appear.
  • Update your customer support scripts. Most identity tickets are about names not showing. Train support to check reverse on the user’s active chain and to confirm forward matching before escalating.

The migration path for almost every existing name

The ENSv2 plan maps out how different classes of names will move. The headline numbers matter for planning, but the operational details matter more.

• Ownership does not change. You will keep ownership of your .eth name. ENS is not forcing a move. If you want to remain on Ethereum L1, you can, and your name will continue to resolve.
• There will be an easy migration tool. ENS is building a guided flow that copies your name data into the ENSv2 contracts and optionally relocates the name to Namechain for cheaper, faster management. Expect this to include bulk actions for power users and organizations.
• Subnames get better rules. ENSv2 is designed so each .eth name comes with its own registry. That means teams can delegate permissions and automate subname policies without sharing a global admin. If you run a large community with subnames like team.yourbrand.eth, this is the moment to formalize issuance policies and hand off operations to your community tools.
• CCIP‑Read names and DNS‑imported names remain compatible. If you have a name like cb.id or a DNS name imported into ENS, resolution will continue to work. Migration gives you the new data model and management tools, but you do not lose basic functionality by waiting.

If you oversee many names, treat migration like a normal system upgrade. Inventory your names, note which resolvers they use, and plan a staged rollout: L1 to ENSv2 on L1 for the conservative accounts, then move active program names to Namechain to unlock the fee savings and faster updates.

What this sets up for 2026

The combination of Namechain and L2 Primary Names clears three long‑standing blockers for consumer‑scale identity.

• Wallet‑native login that is readable. Sign‑in flows can now verify a user’s name on the chain they are on and fall back to the default without awkward network switching. This lets apps show a verified name in the login header from the first click.
• Payments by name across chains. When a user types a name in a send box, the app can resolve the correct address for the current chain and display a clear confirmation that the name and address match. Over time, this will reduce mis‑sends and make contact lists normal.
• Portable identity that follows the user. Since primary names are multichain and resolvers understand defaults and overrides, a user can take the same identity into a new chain without a new account setup. Brands can take loyalty programs cross‑chain while preserving a single user record keyed by name.

The net effect is the experience people expect from modern accounts. One identity, many contexts, no repeated setup.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Assuming mainnet is always authoritative. It is not anymore. Check the active chain first, then fall back to the default.
• Skipping forward‑match verification. Never display a name from reverse without confirming the forward address for the same coin type matches the address you queried.
• Hardcoding contract addresses. Resolve reverse registrars and universal resolvers by name when possible and cache cautiously. ENS contracts evolve, and addresses can change.
• Ignoring normalization. Always normalize the name you get from reverse before display. If it is unnormalized, treat it as invalid until corrected.
• Caching a name across chains. Cache per chain with a short expiry and bust the cache on network changes.

A concise rollout checklist

• Engineering

  • Implement ENSIP‑19 reverse and forward checks per chain.
  • Add Default Primary Name fallback. Document which UI states show default vs network‑specific.
  • Expose profile editors for chain‑specific addresses plus a default address.
  • Normalize names before display and when saving.
  • Build tests for Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, Linea sync and fallback behavior.

• Product

  • Add a Primary Name status panel in settings with fix buttons for missing forward or reverse.
  • Update contact lists to group by verified primary name per chain.
  • Write user help copy that explains Default Primary Name and Network Primary Name in one screen.

• Operations

  • Inventory names, resolvers, and subname policies.
  • Choose which names will migrate to ENSv2 on L1 and which will move to Namechain.
  • Schedule a maintenance window for bulk migrations and publish a playbook for support.

The bottom line

ENSv2 takes the human part of Ethereum and fits it to the world people actually use. L2 Primary Names make names show up in the right place without extra steps. Namechain makes managing identity cheap and fast without leaving Ethereum’s security umbrella. For developers and brands, the work is straightforward and the payoff is immediate. Implement ENSIP‑19, support cross‑chain reverse records, and refresh your resolvers and UIs. Do this, and you are shipping the user experience that sets up 2026 for wallet‑native login, payments by name, and portable identity at consumer scale. To see how this fits the broader market shift, read why alt L1s are rewriting assumptions and how permissionless proofs reshape L2s. The best version of Web3 often looks like the best version of the web you already know. This is that version.