# ENS Interop Research Proposal
### _Positioning ENS DAO as the Intellectual Hub for Multichain Identity Coordination_
_Presented by estmcmxci.eth — Public Goods Working Group Call_
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## **Context**
### **1. Research Origins**
On **August 21, 2025**, I hosted a **Kernel Research Pop-Up** where several protocol engineers convened to discuss **Namechain** and **multichain interoperability**.
Following that session, I published a **recap** outlining how **Ethereum’s role as the canonical root of trust** is preserved as ENS scales across **L2s, non-EVMs, and DNS**.
The discussion explored key trade-offs between **chain-specific implementations** and **interoperable standards**, noting that **ENS Labs** is already developing:
- Standard contracts for **L2 registries and resolvers** to emit **uniform events** (e.g., subname creation, transfer, burn)
- **Enumerability and indexability** for names via standardized event schemas
- Comprehensive documentation detailing how an L2 or ecosystem can add **primary name support**
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### **2. Open Questions for Further Research**
The pop-up also surfaced several critical questions for continued exploration:
- How can ENS reconcile **ENSIP-19** with existing chain identification standards like **CAIP-2**, **chainlist**, and **SLIP-44** to prevent fragmentation?
- How do **L2 resolver implementations** differ in practice, and what can we learn from their behavior to inform shared standards?
- What progress is being made toward a **canonical registry** linking names, chains, and identifiers?
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### **3. Purpose of This Proposal**
This proposal continues that line of research — investigating how **ENS evolves into a cross-rollup identity layer**, studying interoperability standards as they emerge, and tracking progress toward **canonical registries** for naming and identity.
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## **Research Structure**
This is a **structured, ongoing process** designed to:
- Surface insights
- Map relationships
- Document emerging standards across ENS’s multichain deployments and adjacent ecosystems
### **Primary Areas of Focus**
1. **L2 Reverse Resolver Behavior**
Analyze how reverse resolvers operate across major rollups — Base, Optimism, Arbitrum, Linea, and Scroll — and identify inconsistencies or best practices.
2. **Chain-Based Registry (Unruggable/Wonderland)**
Study the proposed **chain identity registry** mapping **ERC-7930 identifiers** to names.
This involves three core contracts — **registry**, **resolver**, and **reverse resolver** — enabling synchronous composability and potentially cross-chain resolution.
The research will explore what a **canonical “chain identity layer”** could mean for ENS.
3. **Multichain Interoperability Roundtables**
Convene participants from ENS Labs, Unruggable, Wonderland, Basenames, and L2 teams to align around shared standards and document the state of multichain naming.
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## **Deliverables**
| **Category** | **Output** | **Purpose** |
|---------------|-------------|-------------|
| **Research & Mapping** | Map relationships between emerging standards | Clarify complex interoperability landscape for builders |
| **Documentation** | Structured reports + visual interoperability map | Create a shared mental model for developers |
| **Coordination** | Multichain roundtable + forum discussions | Turn complexity into clarity, and clarity into public goods |
| **Synthesis** | Final research report | Provide actionable recommendations for ENS and adjacent ecosystems |
> The **deliverable is clarity** — and clarity compounds in value as the ecosystem grows.
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## **Public Goods Justification**
This research should be funded through the **Public Goods Working Group** because it serves the **Ethereum identity ecosystem as a whole**, not just ENS.
1. **Ethereum-Wide Impact:** Builds for **Ethereum’s identity infrastructure** broadly, with ENS as the lynchpin.
2. **Standardization Effort:** Works toward **shared frameworks and long-term coordination** across ecosystems.
3. **Builder Enablement:** Brings **clarity for developers** working on identity, wallets, and interoperability infrastructure.
4. **Public Knowledge Base:** Creates **open resources** other teams can coordinate around and build upon.
> By transforming emerging standards into actionable understanding, this research expands the **opportunity surface for builders** — enabling them to build earlier, better, and more profitably.
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## **Proposed Deliverable Timeline (4 Weeks)**
| **Week** | **Deliverable** | **Description** |
|-----------|----------------|----------------|
| **1** | **Forum Series: ENS Interop** | Multi-part post series modeled on the prior Grants series, introducing core interop themes |
| **2** | **Protocol Engineer Interviews** | Conversations with Unruggable, Wonderland, Basenames, and ENS Labs on progress toward interoperability |
| **3** | **Interop Map** | Visual matrix of L2 deployments, resolver patterns, and chain registry logic |
| **4** | **Roundtable Discussion + Final Report** | Convening a follow-up to the Kernel pop-up; publishing synthesis of findings, standards references, and recommendations |
---
## **Goal**
To establish **ENS DAO** as the **intellectual hub for multichain identity coordination** —
the trusted source of research, standards documentation, and shared understanding for builders working on the next generation of Ethereum identity infrastructure.
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