The Ethereum Foundation (EF) recently announced the Open Intent Framework, a new interoperability initiative to streamline cross-chain transactions across Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible networks. This project aims to simplify and accelerate intent-based interoperability by introducing user-friendly mechanisms called intents, which allow transactions to be executed automatically and optimally across blockchains.
Hyperlane and BootNode have already expressed support for the initiative, which is an open-source, modular infrastructure designed to address the inefficiencies that arise from navigating the increasingly fragmented Ethereum layer-2 (L2) ecosystem. The initiative has also received support from 30 teams from the Ethereum ecosystem, including major layer-2 blockchains like Arbitrum, Optimism, and Polygon.
The Ethereum L2 ecosystem currently has over $36 billion in total value locked, fragmented across 59 rollups, creating a need for seamless interoperability across chains. Despite advancements in the space, such as major tech firms like Sony entering with their own L2 solutions, the lack of unified interoperability remains a significant barrier. The foundation aims to enhance the user experience by leveraging intents to unify the ecosystem and transform it into a more cohesive network.
The Open Intent Framework is built on the ERC-7683 standard proposed by Uniswap Labs and the interoperability protocol Across, introduced in April 2024. This standard facilitates cross-chain intent agents, enabling smoother interactions between networks. However, the adoption of intents poses challenges, as new chains must secure support from existing protocols through extensive business development efforts.
To address the challenges of running a solver, the framework introduces a suite of modular tools designed to simplify the creation and deployment of intent-based protocols. These tools include a TypeScript-based solver for monitoring on-chain events and executing intents, composable smart contracts for efficient creation and settlement of intents, and a customizable user interface template to improve accessibility and adoption. By standardizing intent execution across Ethereum, developers can build without reinventing core infrastructure, reducing time-to-market and operational overhead.
