The Ethereum Foundation has declared interoperability its top user experience (UX) priority for the next 6-12 months, marking a strategic shift from previous focuses on throughput and cost reduction. This initiative aims to seamlessly integrate all Ethereum layer-1 and layer-2 networks, creating a unified ecosystem. Researchers labeled interoperability the "highest leverage opportunity" for near-term UX improvement.
The foundation outlined a three-phase implementation plan: initialisation, acceleration, and finalisation. The initialisation phase centers on intent-based design through the Open Intents Framework (already live with production smart contracts), the Ethereum Interoperability Layer (led by the ERC-4337 team), and new interoperability standards. Key ERC proposals include ERC-7828/7930 (interoperable address formats), ERC-7811 (cross-chain asset consolidation), ERC-5792 (multi-call flows), and ERC-7683 (standard intent language for bridges).
The acceleration stream targets faster cross-tier transactions, including a Fast L1 Confirmation Rule by early 2026 to reduce confirmation times to 15-30 seconds and research to halve block times from 12 to 6 seconds. The finalisation stream focuses on L1 finality improvements and zero-knowledge proof support for robust cross-rollup transactions.
This interoperability push aligns with upcoming upgrades like Pectra (May 2025), Fusaka (2025), and Glamsterdam (2026), and could significantly enhance liquidity, capital efficiency, and cross-chain application functionality without compromising security. The foundation's ultimate goal is to make Ethereum function like a single, cohesive network—akin to the internet—for both users and developers.
