Ethereum and Base have officially abandoned plans to build a unified next-generation crypto wallet standard. The months-long cross-chain collaboration collapsed last week, between September 8 and 9, 2026. Now, both camps are going their separate ways. Ethereum is moving forward with EIP-8141, or Frame Transactions. Meanwhile, Base, backed by cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, is developing its own rival proposal, EIP-8130. Both proposals currently remain in draft status.
This split in standards forces the industry to prepare for two wallet ecosystems that diverge from the ground up.
Two Diverging Visions
Initially, the joint initiative shared a single mission: to make crypto wallets work as seamlessly as modern apps. They designed a system that would allow users to log in using passkeys, provide alternative account recovery methods, let applications sponsor transaction fees, and bundle multiple blockchain actions into a single transaction.
To achieve that new user experience, proposals from both camps would completely overhaul transaction rules. They modify technical specifications regarding who has the authority to approve a transaction, which party is required to pay its fees, and what events can follow afterward.
However, their perspectives on network priorities differed sharply. Ethereum favored a standard emphasizing privacy preservation, censorship resistance, and security as crypto wallets become increasingly programmable. Ethereum’s design also directly includes an easy migration path from current cryptographic systems should quantum computing pose a real security threat in the future.
Base, on the other hand, sought broader flexibility to optimize its infrastructure for high-volume transactions. The network is also focused on accommodating various types of future applications, including running financial systems with strict compliance requirements.
Interoperability Takes a Backseat to Ambition
Ethlabs developer Derek Chiang confirmed the breakdown of the months-long negotiations. On X, Chiang explained that while both sides recognized the immense benefits of unified ecosystem interoperability, standard unification ultimately took a lower priority. “Ethereum wants to be the best version of Ethereum, and Base wants to be the best version of Base,” he wrote.
For crypto wallet creators, this decision brings a mounting workload. Developers building cross-chain application functionality now face the practical consequences of two different EIPs. They must prepare to support two completely separate codebases just to construct and validate the exact same type of transaction.
Source: CoinDesk.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
