Ethereum Proposes a New Interop Layer to Reunify L2s and Enhance Cross-Chain Usability

As Ethereum’s Layer 2 (L2) networks proliferate, fragmentation has emerged as a key barrier to seamless cross-chain activity. To address this challenge, the Ethereum Foundation has put forward a bold solution: a new Ethereum Interop Layer (EIL) that aims to unify disparate L2 rollups and drastically simplify cross-L2 transactions.

In this article, we explore what EIL is, why it matters, and how it could reshape the Ethereum ecosystem for users, developers, and intermediaries alike.

Source: Cointribune

Why Ethereum Needs an Interop Layer

Fragmentation Across L2s Is Slowing Adoption

• Growing use of rollups has improved scalability and lowered transaction fees, but it has also fragmented the user experience.

• Users currently rely on multiple wallets, bridges, and third-party tools to move assets between L2 networks.

• This fragmentation can lead to higher costs, more trust assumptions, and a barrier to mainstream interoperability.

EIL As a Unifying Solution

• EIL introduces a shared, universal layer that allows users to perform cross-L2 operations with just a single signature.

• Rather than changing how individual rollups work, EIL preserves each rollup’s architecture while acting as a connective tissue.

• Built on ERC-4337 account abstraction, EIL gives control back to users’ smart wallets and removes the need for many intermediaries.

How EIL Works: Key Features

Single-Signature Cross-L2 Transactions

With EIL, users will be able to sign once and execute cross-chain actions across multiple L2s. This streamlines the user journey, eliminating extra transaction steps and reducing reliance on bridges.

No New Trust Assumptions

EIL is designed to minimize trust risks:

• No need for additional trusted relayers or solvers.

• Users’ wallets remain central; EIL does not impose new consensus mechanisms on existing rollups.

• The approach follows the trust-minimized philosophy outlined in the Trustless Manifesto.

Liquidity and Wallet Alignment

• EIL offers a unified communication layer, which helps consolidate liquidity across L2s.

• Wallets can support cross-L2 activity natively, making them a one-stop point for users instead of forcing them to manage separate wallets per chain.

Market Reaction: Support & Pushback

Community Response

• Many Ethereum users have welcomed the EIL proposal, expressing frustration with the current burden of bridging and switching wallets.

• On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), developers and users alike have praised EIL’s potential to lower costs and simplify workflows.

Pressure on Intermediaries

• Services built around cross-chain relayers or external infrastructure could see reduced demand.

• As EIL enables wallet-driven cross-chain flows, some third-party providers might need to rethink their business models or risk becoming obsolete.

• Platforms that currently rely on bridging or relays might face traffic decline if EIL becomes widely adopted.

Potential Benefits for Ethereum’s Future

• Reduced Complexity: By cutting out redundant bridging steps, EIL streamlines cross-L2 user experience.

• Lower Costs & Risk: Fewer intermediaries means fewer trust layers and potentially cheaper transactions.

• Improved Liquidity: A shared layer could help consolidate liquidity across rollups, making capital flow more efficiently.

• User Empowerment: Smart wallets stay at the center, giving users more control, fewer third-party dependencies, and a more seamless experience.

Conclusion & Outlook

Ethereum’s proposed Interop Layer represents a strategic leap forward in solving one of the blockchain’s most fundamental usability challenges. For many in the community, EIL could mark the turning point when L2s truly act as components of a unified, scalable Ethereum — not fragmented islands.

If widely adopted, EIL may reduce friction, lower costs, and shift activity away from legacy bridging services and toward wallet-native cross-L2 interactions. However, its success depends on the community’s willingness to embrace this architecture — and intermediaries’ ability to adapt.

As discussions intensify, the next few quarters will be critical. Will EIL become a new standard for cross-chain usability? Or will structural inertia slow its adoption? Either way, the proposal offers a compelling vision for a more interoperable Ethereum future.

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