Coinbase Payments has officially joined as a core contributor to the Open Intents Framework (OIF), an innovative initiative aimed at establishing open standards for the secure movement of assets across various blockchain networks. The announcement was made via a post on social media platform X on September 17, highlighting Coinbase’s commitment to enhancing user experience in the multi-chain ecosystem.
The OIF is a collaborative effort that includes prominent industry players such as the Ethereum Foundation, Hyperlane, Across Protocol, and OpenZeppelin. The overarching aim of the framework is to streamline the fragmented user interactions currently prevalent in the multi-chain environment, where users often struggle to manage assets across different networks like Ethereum and Base.
At the heart of the OIF is the concept of “intents,” representing a significant shift in how users will engage with blockchain technology. Rather than navigating complex processes, users will be able to express their goals—like swapping one token for another on a different network. A specialized agent known as a “solver” will then determine the most efficient transaction route and execute it on the user’s behalf, thus simplifying the user experience.
The framework provides a modular, open-source toolkit for developers, which includes a reference solver implementation and composable smart contracts based on the proposed ERC-7683 standard. This shared infrastructure empowers developers to build and deploy intent-based systems with greater ease, free from being tied to a singular provider.
Security remains a critical concern amid the industry’s growth, particularly in light of recent incidents such as a data breach at Coinbase, which was linked to insider threats. The standardization offered by OIF can help mitigate risks associated with complex transactions, as automated solvers may reduce the likelihood of human error.
Additionally, the OIF’s technology aligns with a broader trend of integrating artificial intelligence with blockchain, as seen in the Ethereum Foundation’s establishment of an AI team. This aims to position the Ethereum network as a key settlement layer for future machine economies. Companies like Circle are also working on solutions to enable AI agents to autonomously handle payments using stablecoins, illustrating the potential for these specialized agents in the future.
Characterized as a “public good initiative,” the ultimate goal of the OIF is to make cross-chain interactions as seamless as today’s web experiences. This would facilitate more intuitive applications across sectors, including e-commerce, while maintaining the robust security features associated with the Ethereum network.
