> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://rlabs.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# ENS Token

> Everything you need to know about the ENS token

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/rlabs/sxFVAgc5nBzfPQoJ/images/Token%20Banner.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=sxFVAgc5nBzfPQoJ&q=85&s=4217975052c733371343956a58caf88d" alt="ENS Token" width="3600" height="2025" data-path="images/Token Banner.jpg" />
</Frame>

<Info>
  The ENS token is a governance token used to govern key components of the ENS protocol
</Info>

## Overview

The ENS DAO was created in November 2021 with the launch of the <Tooltip tip="The ENS token is a governance token used to govern key components of the ENS protocol" cta="Learn more about the ENS token" href="https://docs.ens.domains/dao/token/">\$ENS token</Tooltip>, which serves as the governance token for the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) protocol.

<Accordion title=" $ENS Token Details">
  * Type: ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain.
  * Total Supply: 100 million \$ENS tokens were minted at launch.
  * Contract Address: 0xC18360217D8F7Ab5e7c516566761Ea12Ce7F9D72
  * Source: [ENS Token](https://docs.ens.domains/dao/token/)
</Accordion>

## Governance

* **Delegation:** \$ENS holders can delegate their tokens to others (Delegates), who can then submit and vote on proposals related to ENS protocol changes and DAO treasury spending.
* **Voting:** Each \$ENS token represents one vote in the DAO.

## Initial Distribution

* **25% (25 million \$ENS):** Allocated to core contributors, ecosystem partners, and community members. Tokens for core contributors and launch advisors are subject to a four-year lock-up and vesting schedule.
* **25% (25 million \$ENS):** Available to be claimed as an airdrop by addresses that had registered a .eth second-level domain before the snapshot taken at midnight UTC on October 31, 2021.
* **50% (50 million \$ENS):** Allocated to the DAO’s treasury. 10% of this was available at launch, with the remaining remainder unlocking linearly over four years from November 8, 2021.

<Info> Learn more about the initial distribution of \$ENS [here](https://docs.ens.domains/dao/proposals/1.7)</Info>

## Airdrop

* **Eligibility:** Based on .eth registration history and whether the address set a Primary ENS Name.
* **Airdrop Window:** Opened on November 8, 2021, and closed on May 4, 2022.
* **Unclaimed Tokens:** After the airdrop window closed, unclaimed \$ENS tokens were transferred back to the DAO treasury.

## DAO Treasury

* **Initial Claim:** 5 million \$ENS (10% of the treasury allocation) was claimed at launch.
* **Unclaimed Airdrop Sweep:** On May 5, 2022, unclaimed airdrop tokens were swept back to the DAO treasury.
* **Unlocking:** The remaining 45 million \$ENS allocated to the DAO unlocks linearly over four years and can be claimed by the DAO through governance proposals.

## Minting Rights

The ENS DAO has the right to mint up to 2% of the current total supply of \$ENS per year. After minting, the DAO must wait one year before it can mint again.