Coinbase Payments has officially joined the Open Intents Framework (OIF) as a core contributor, announced on September 17, 2025. This partnership focuses on developing open standards for Ethereum cross-chain interoperability, aiming to enhance security and streamline asset movement across Layer 2 networks and other blockchains.
The collaboration includes major industry players such as the Ethereum Foundation, Hyperlane, Across Protocol, OpenZeppelin, and LI.FI Protocol. The initiative addresses critical challenges in Ethereum's multichain ecosystem, where users currently face fragmented experiences accessing DeFi protocols on Arbitrum, social networks on Base, and AI agents on Mode. Current cross-chain transfers require complex infrastructure and lengthy processes, which the OIF aims to simplify through modular, open-source tooling.
The framework introduces "intents," allowing users to specify desired outcomes (e.g., swapping 100 USDC on Base for 100 USDT on Arbitrum) rather than manually executing multi-step transactions. Specialized solvers compete to fulfill these requests efficiently, handling technical complexities like transaction settlements and risk management. The OIF builds on Vitalik Buterin's 2024 interoperability vision, incorporating Ethereum Improvement Proposals like EIP-7683 for communication protocols and EIP-3668 for off-chain data access.
Security is a paramount concern, given the surge in cross-chain crime to over $21 billion in 2025 (a threefold increase from 2023). The framework uses Hyperlane's security modules and storage proof systems to mitigate risks without creating single points of failure. The initiative launches with production-ready ERC-7683 implementation, an open-source TypeScript solver application, and customizable UI templates. Audits were completed in Q1 2025, with cross-chain validation expected in Q4.
Ethereum Foundation researchers have identified interoperability as the top near-term priority for the next 6-12 months, emphasizing its potential to reshape DeFi protocols and Ethereum's development. Major ecosystem partners like Arbitrum, Uniswap, and Superbridge are already integrating the framework.
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