The company behind the Ethereum Name Service, ENS Labs, has announced that it will be using Linea's technology to develop its layer-2 network, known as Namechain. Linea, a zero-knowledge rollup developed by Consensys, is the seventh-largest rollup network, with over $1 billion in its ecosystem. The decision to use Linea was based on two key factors: shared values and speed. Rollups are a type of blockchain that enables faster and more cost-effective transactions, and come in two forms: optimistic and zero-knowledge.
Zero-knowledge rollups, like Linea, utilize advanced cryptography to secure and finalize transactions quickly. ENS, often described as the 'phone book for Web3', provides a vital service by making it easier for users to remember and type domain names, such as parishilton.eth, rather than complex numerical IP addresses. To provide this service effectively, fast finality is necessary, which Linea's zero-knowledge rollup technology can deliver. This news comes as other major crypto projects announce their plans to develop layer-2 networks, with some opting for Optimism's OP Stack.
ENS will be one of the first major projects to build a layer-2 network using Linea's technology, and the partnership is expected to strengthen and decentralize the L2 protocol.