Ethereum and Base Split Over Next-Gen Wallet Standards
Ethereum and Base Abandon Joint Wallet Standard Effort
Ethereum and the Coinbase-backed layer-2 network Base have stopped trying to agree on a unified wallet standard for the next generation of crypto wallets. This split was revealed on September 14 by Ethlabs researcher Derek Chiang, who said collaboration between developers working on Ethereum's EIP-8141 Frame Transactions and Base's EIP-8130 failed last week.
The failure means Ethereum and Base will advance separate account-abstraction designs. Account-abstraction is a way to make wallets more flexible and programmable, allowing features like gas sponsorship (where someone else pays transaction fees) and passkey authentication.
Both sides wanted to improve wallets, but they disagreed on how much freedom accounts should have and how much structure chains should impose on transactions before they execute.
Key Takeaways from the Split
- Ethereum and Base are no longer working on a shared wallet standard, instead pursuing different technical proposals.
- The split could force wallets to support different transaction architectures across networks that previously shared similar account experiences.
- Compatibility might still be possible through common authenticators and existing standards like ERC-4337, but more work may shift away from the protocols themselves.
Researcher Reveals Breakdown in Collaboration
Derek Chiang, an Ethlabs researcher, stated on September 14 that developers had been discussing ideas to reconcile EIP-8141 and EIP-8130, but the collaboration broke down due to incompatible requirements. He noted that "Ethereum wanted to be the best version of Ethereum, and Base wanted to be the best version of Base."
The breakdown occurred even after Ethereum core developers gave EIP-8141 a strong signal toward inclusion in the upcoming Hegotá upgrade, according to the source.
Developers Weigh In on L2 Divergence
Matt Garnett, an Ethereum core developer, commented that divergence among layer-2 networks like Base is inevitable because market competition pushes them to introduce features faster than Ethereum's main layer-1 network can. He said, "Market pressure forces them to ship features at a pace that L1 cannot match, so incompatibilities accumulate."
The source also cites crypto lawyer Gabriel Shapiro, who argued that layer-2 networks benefit the crypto industry and sequencer owners but not necessarily Ethereum itself. He said, "L2s are great — for the crypto industry and for people who own the sequencer. For Ethereum, they are just kinda like 'less bad' than competing L1s."
Confirmed Details of the EIPs and Split
The facts confirmed by the source include: Ethereum's EIP-8141 Frame Transactions aim to break transactions into programmable calls, allowing accounts to be defined by code and supporting features like key rotation and post-quantum authentication. Base's EIP-8130, drafted by Coinbase engineer Chris Hunter, takes a more structured approach, requiring transactions to identify authenticators for predictable validation.
The split is confirmed to have occurred, with both proposals seeking to make wallets more programmable. Ethereum's priority is described as CROPS: censorship and capture resistance, open-source software, privacy, and security. Base faces different pressures, needing scalable and legible account-abstraction systems for high-throughput networks.
Uncertainties Around Cross-Network Compatibility
It remains unclear how wallet compatibility will be maintained if Ethereum and Base adopt different native systems. The source notes that a common authenticator set and ERC-4337 could provide alternatives, but preserving compatibility may require more work from wallets or other layers, rather than the protocols themselves.
The future impact on users and developers is uncertain, as the source does not specify concrete next steps or timelines for implementation.
Why This Split Matters for Crypto Users
This split matters because it highlights how layer-2 networks, built to scale Ethereum, are increasingly optimizing for their own priorities. For crypto users, it could mean needing wallets that handle different transaction methods across networks, potentially complicating the user experience. The divergence also raises questions about how Ethereum's ecosystem evolves as its layer-2 networks grow with separate commercial interests.