Ethereum Foundation collaborates on new framework to standardize buzzy ‘intents’ transactions

The Ethereum Foundation, along with other organizations, has unveiled a new “public good initiative” called the Open Intents Framework in a drive to advance and standardize the new form of blockchain transaction using “intents.”"Intents" are a relatively new concept that are beginning to gain traction that, as the name suggests, represent a user’s desired outcomes when using a blockchain. The idea is to simplify transaction execution — specifically cross-chain transactions — by moving some of the process off-chain.Instead of submitting explicit, step-by-step instructions for a transaction (like gas settings, calldata and specific contract interactions), a user expresses what they intend to achieve — like "swap 1 ETH on Ethereum for as much DAI on Arbitrum as possible" — and delegates the execution details to a third party.The process is part and parcel of Ethereum developer’s ultimate aim of “abstracting” away the complexity of crypto, especially as more and more activities are fragmented across multiple Layer 2 networks."With the Open Intents Framework, we’re taking a major step toward that reality - establishing shared standards for intent-based execution,” Hart Lambur, co-founder of Risk Labs, the foundation behind Across and UMA Protocols, said in a statement.How Open Intents Framework came to beAcross introduced the Ethereum Request for Comment that proposed a standardized framework for "cross-chain intents” together with Uniswap in April 2024. ERC-7683 established the common language for intent-based transaction execution across networks.“While ERC-7683 provides the standard, the Open Intents Framework is the first modular implementation that enables intent execution at scale,” the statement reads. “By offering shared infrastructure and execution coordination, OIF makes intent-based transactions permissionless, efficient and accessible for all projects.”The framework was developed by the EF alongside universal messaging layer Hyperlane and the EF’s open node service system Bootnode. Leading L2s including Arbitrum, Polygon, Optimism, ZKsync and Scroll, among others, support the standard at launch.Although intents have been live for about a year, including on major applications like Uniswap and CoW Swap, there isn’t a lot of uniformity in how they’re performed. Part of that is the result of the generalized nature of “intents” while part of it results from the challenges of decentralized coordination among developers.For example, while “solvers” and “relayers” essentially perform the same function of handling the heavy lifting of routing transactions, interacting with protocols and batching operations — all depending on the specific intent, of course — there isn’t a lot of uniformity on the nomenclature. Generally, “solvers” refer to systems that “optimize” transactions while relayers, fillers or messengers may operate with a little less discretion.“Integrating intents remains complex and resource-intensive,” the statement reads, noting that standardized infrastructure like specialized solvers could “reduce barriers to adoption, and foster broader collaboration across the ecosystem.”Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.© 2025 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.