// GLOSSARY -- WEB3 INFRASTRUCTURE

What is EIP (Ethereum Improvement Proposal)?

1 min read Updated

An EIP (Ethereum Improvement Proposal) is a design document proposing changes to the Ethereum protocol — including new features, standards, and processes — following a structured process for community review and adoption.

WHY IT MATTERS

EIPs are how Ethereum evolves. From token standards (EIP-20/ERC-20) to protocol upgrades (EIP-1559 fee reform, EIP-4844 blob transactions) to account abstraction (EIP-4337), all significant changes go through the EIP process.

EIP types include: Standards Track (protocol changes, token standards), Meta (process changes), and Informational (guidelines). ERCs (Ethereum Request for Comments) are a subset of Standards Track EIPs defining application-level standards.

The process: draft → review → final → adopted. Community discussion, technical review, and testnet deployment happen along the way. Anyone can propose an EIP, but adoption requires broad consensus.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What's the difference between EIP and ERC?
ERCs are a category of EIPs — specifically Standards Track EIPs for application-level conventions (token standards, wallet interfaces). EIP is the broader category including protocol changes.
Who decides which EIPs are adopted?
Core developers and the community through rough consensus. There's no formal voting — EIPs are adopted when there's broad agreement among client teams, researchers, and stakeholders.
What are the most important EIPs?
EIP-20 (ERC-20 tokens), EIP-721 (NFTs), EIP-1559 (fee reform), EIP-4337 (account abstraction), EIP-4844 (blob transactions). These have shaped the modern Ethereum ecosystem.

FURTHER READING

Enforce policies on every tool call

Intercept is the open-source MCP proxy that enforces YAML policies on AI agent tool calls. No code changes needed.

npx -y @policylayer/intercept
github.com/policylayer/intercept →
// GET IN TOUCH

Have a question or want to learn more? Send us a message.

Message sent.

We'll get back to you soon.