Ethereum and Base diverge on account abstraction standards

Ethereum and the Base layer‑2 network will implement separate account abstraction (AA) standards after recent discussions to align on a common approach broke down.

Failed talks and differing priorities

Researcher Derek Chiang, a founding member of Ethlabs and co‑author of Ethereum’s EIP‑8141 proposal, said on X that interoperability standards became secondary to each chain’s core goals. The split places the responsibility on wallet developers to handle distinct transaction formats.

Ethereum’s path: Frame Transactions (EIP‑8141)

Ethereum is advancing Frame Transactions under EIP‑8141 as part of its upcoming Hegotá upgrade. The upgrade aims to introduce native account abstraction and lay groundwork for post‑quantum authentication.

Base’s approach: Keystore (EIP‑8130)

Base is pursuing native account abstraction via the Keystore mechanism defined in EIP‑8130, which is already live on its devnet.

Implications for wallets and developers

Wallets may need to support both transaction formats to provide a seamless user experience across Ethereum and Base. The divergence reflects broader differences between layer‑1 networks, which prioritize censorship resistance, privacy and security, and layer‑2 solutions that focus on scalability.

Future outlook

Chiang noted that the separation allows each platform to innovate independently according to its vision. Ethereum’s Hegotá upgrade is expected to roll out in late 2026, following the Glamsterdam upgrade that targets scalability and usability improvements.