eip 3074

What Is Ethereum Improvement Proposal 3074?

Ethereum Improvement Proposal 3074 (EIP-3074) is an upgrade suggestion for the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) that introduces two new opcodes: AUTH and AUTHCALL. These opcodes enable Externally Owned Accounts (EOAs) to temporarily delegate transaction execution to a smart contract. With this mechanism, users can sign once, allowing a contract to perform multiple on-chain actions on their behalf within specified limits.

Currently, EOAs must individually sign every transaction and pay gas fees themselves. EIP-3074 aims to improve batch transactions, sponsored gas payments, and one-click operations without migrating EOAs to smart contract accounts, thereby lowering the complexity for new users.

What Problems Does EIP-3074 Solve?

EIP-3074 addresses two major pain points: First, EOAs cannot execute multi-step on-chain operations with a single authorization, resulting in repeated signatures and multiple gas payments. Second, new users often lack ETH for gas fees, which creates a poor onboarding experience.

In practice, claiming airdrops typically requires several steps like "authorize — claim — transfer"; trading may involve "authorize — swap — stake." EIP-3074 allows these steps to be combined into a single process, with gas potentially sponsored by projects or wallets, enhancing usability.

How Does EIP-3074 Work?

EIP-3074 centers around two opcodes: AUTH and AUTHCALL. Opcodes are essentially instructions for the Ethereum Virtual Machine. AUTH records the user's signed authorization for a specific caller contract; AUTHCALL enables the authorized contract to initiate subsequent calls using the user's address within the allowed scope.

From the user's perspective, you sign an agreement that "permits this contract to execute certain predefined actions on my behalf during this process." Upon receiving authorization, the contract executes the steps in order—such as approving tokens, swapping, then staking—so on-chain transactions appear to originate from your address but are packaged by the contract.

How Does EIP-3074 Change Wallet User Experience?

EIP-3074 streamlines multiple signature prompts into a single clear authorization flow and supports gas sponsorship, lowering the entry barrier for newcomers. Wallet products can offer "one-click" templates, reducing user errors.

For example, when interacting with decentralized applications (DApps), EIP-3074 enables bundling operations like "authorize + swap + transfer." First-time users can complete their initial on-chain action without needing to prepare ETH if the project or wallet sponsors gas.

On exchanges—such as when depositing or withdrawing ETH ecosystem assets on Gate—many users transfer funds to self-custody wallets for DeFi participation. EIP-3074’s sponsored gas and batch transaction capabilities enable smoother DApp interactions and help avoid being stuck due to insufficient ETH for gas.

How Does EIP-3074 Relate to Account Abstraction?

Account abstraction (often via ERC-4337) leverages smart contract accounts for flexible validation and payment strategies, such as having a Paymaster sponsor gas or implementing multi-factor authentication. EIP-3074 enhances EOAs directly; while their approaches differ, both aim to improve user experience.

EIP-3074 can complement account abstraction: It enables EOAs to batch "deploy smart accounts, migrate assets and permissions" into a single workflow, easing migration friction. For users already using smart accounts, account abstraction offers greater programmability; for those yet to migrate, EIP-3074 lowers the barrier.

How Is EIP-3074 Used in DeFi and NFTs?

In DeFi, EIP-3074 is commonly used to merge "approve token — swap — stake/provide liquidity" into one transaction. Strategy platforms can offer "one-click entry," with gas sponsored by the platform; users need only a single signature to complete all steps.

For NFTs, it bundles processes like "batch mint — set list price — post to marketplace" into one workflow. It also enables "batch buying" or "batch order cancellation." New users benefit from sponsored gas, making their first minting or trading easier even if they have no ETH in their wallet.

For cross-chain or Layer 2 interactions, project teams can use EIP-3074 to package steps like "bridge — swap — deposit," sponsoring gas to boost conversion rates. For instance, after withdrawing from Gate to Ethereum and entering a DApp, users can complete all necessary on-chain preparations with one signature.

What Are the Risks and Security Recommendations for EIP-3074?

The primary risk is misunderstanding what you are authorizing. Granting overly broad permissions to an untrusted caller contract could result in actions outside your intent, such as moving your tokens or setting excessive approval limits.

Step 1: Verify the caller contract address and DApp source. Only use trusted entry points and avoid phishing sites.

Step 2: Review the scope of authorization. Ensure restrictions on target contracts, functions, and amounts to prevent “unlimited approval.”

Step 3: Test with small amounts and set transaction limits. After completion, promptly review and revoke unnecessary approvals.

Lastly: For high-value actions, use hardware wallets or multi-signature schemes whenever possible. Consider migrating to smart accounts for enhanced programmable security when needed.

What Is the Current Status and Future Trend of EIP-3074?

Community discussions focus on three aspects: how to clearly present security boundaries to users; trade-offs and collaboration with account abstraction solutions; and how wallets and DApps should design standardized caller contracts and authorization templates.

Looking forward, wallet products are likely to adopt intuitive authorization interfaces that clearly display caller contracts, target contracts, and amounts, along with tools for "one-click revoke/restore." DApps will encapsulate common multi-step operations into secure templates to minimize user errors. If adopted in future ecosystem upgrades, features like one-click onboarding, sponsored gas, and batch transactions could become standard—significantly improving overall user experience and conversion rates.

Key Takeaways of EIP-3074

EIP-3074 introduces AUTH and AUTHCALL opcodes that bring “temporary delegated execution” to EOAs, solving multi-step interaction and gas fee barriers while significantly enhancing both onboarding and power-user experiences. It does not compete with account abstraction; rather, it provides lightweight upgrades for EOAs while account abstraction offers robust programmability for the long term. In practice, always pay close attention to authorization scopes, caller sources, and revocation mechanisms. Follow best practices like small-scale testing and setting limits to protect your assets.

FAQ

Does EIP-3074 Make My Account More Vulnerable?

EIP-3074 manages risk via explicit authorization—you must sign to grant operational permissions; nothing happens automatically. The key is choosing trusted apps and service providers and regularly reviewing your granted permissions. If you notice suspicious activity, promptly revoke related authorizations for maximum protection.

When Will Regular Users Be Able to Benefit from EIP-3074?

It depends on wallet and app developers’ adoption timelines. Once EIP-3074 is officially activated and integrated by major wallets (like MetaMask or Gate), users will experience improvements in gas fee optimization, batch transactions, and one-click checkouts. As of now, it’s still in proposal and testing phases; broad adoption is expected within 6–12 months.

How Does EIP-3074 Compare with Other Account Innovations Like Plasma or Rollup?

EIP-3074 focuses on optimizing individual account authorization mechanisms for more flexible and efficient user operations. Plasma and Rollup are Layer 2 scalability solutions for Ethereum. They’re not mutually exclusive—EIP-3074 streamlines authorization while Rollups make transactions cheaper. Combined usage greatly enhances user experience.

How Can I Tell If an App Truly Implements EIP-3074 Features?

Check if your wallet prompts you to set operational permissions instead of requiring signatures for every action. Also look for clear indications of authorization scope and validity period in transaction prompts. On professional platforms like Gate, you can directly view an app’s EIP-3074 support status and security audit reports. When in doubt, test with small transactions first.

Will My Existing Wallet Address Still Work After EIP-3074 Activation?

Absolutely. EIP-3074 is an optional feature that doesn’t force changes to existing address behavior; you can continue using your wallet as usual. New features will be gradually adopted by new apps. Existing users may choose to upgrade for new benefits or maintain current usage—the proposal is fully backward compatible.