Cross-Chain Session Management: Keeping User State Consistent Under Intents

Why this matters now

In 2025, Ethereum launched its Pectra upgrade, bringing EIP-7702 to the mainnet on May 7. This upgrade lets externally owned accounts (EOAs) temporarily pass execution to smart contracts through a new kind of transaction--type-4. This is a big step forward for what we’re dubbing “programmable EOAs,” and the best part? Users don’t have to switch to new accounts. It’s a brilliant way to boost user experience focused on intent and to manage session keys more effectively.

When you’re diving into cross-chain intents, it can get a bit complicated. You have to grapple with different finality rules, bridge semantics, and coordinating solvers, which can really mess with user states getting out of sync. Getting session management right is super important; it’s what can make your user experience feel smooth and magical, or it could lead to some frustrating edge-case breakdowns. For more info on this, take a look at (ethereum.org).

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The new baseline: sessions after Pectra (EIP-7702) + modular AA

• What 7702 Actually Brings to the Table
  • It rolls out a type-4 transaction that comes with an authorization_list. Each item in this list gets signed by the Externally Owned Account (EOA) and can restrict delegation based on chain_id as well as the account’s nonce. If users decide they want to revoke these permissions, they can just delegate to the null address. Put simply, this means that EOAs can enjoy "ephemeral programmability"--think batching, gas sponsorship, and session-like activities--without needing to permanently switch accounts. (ethereum.org)
• Why This Matters for Sessions
  • With chain- and nonce-scoped authorizations, you can tie a session to specific networks and transaction windows. This is super helpful for reducing those annoying cross-chain replay risks. If you're aiming for truly global sessions, just set chain_id = 0 and handle your policies for each chain right at the wallet layer. For more insights, check out the features of ERC-5792 and the permissions listed in ERC-7715.
• Modularity stack you should keep your eye on
  • ERC-5792 Wallet Call API: This is the must-have for handling batched calls, tracking status updates, and understanding things like atomicity, paymastering, and auxiliary funds. By 2025, it’s set to be the universal language connecting dapps and wallets. Check it out here: (eips.ethereum.org).
  • ERC-7679 UserOperation Builder: If you want to steer clear of vendor lock-in while crafting 4337 UserOps with various smart-account setups, this is where you want to be! It lays down the encoding rules on-chain, giving solvers and bundlers a lot more flexibility. For the details, tap here: (eips.ethereum.org).
  • ERC-7739 Readable Typed Signatures: This one’s a total game changer when it comes to preventing ERC-1271 replay attacks across smart accounts, all while ensuring EIP-712 prompts remain easy to digest. You can utilize it for any contract-signed session payloads. Get the full scoop here: (eips.ethereum.org).
  • ERC-7710 Delegation and ERC-7715 Permissions: These are super practical for managing session grants and revocations directly from the wallet using JSON-RPC (wallet_grantPermissions). They bring some much-needed standardization to how session keys and AI/agent delegation operate. Check it out here: (eips.ethereum.org).
  • ERC-6492: This is all about counterfactual signature validation for smart accounts that are pre-deployed. It’s crucial if a session starts on one chain but the contract only goes live when it’s first used on another. To dive deeper, click here: (eips.ethereum.org).
  • ERC-7579 modules: Think of these as your go-to toolkit for those interoperable smart-account plugins. The SmartSession modules by Rhinestone/Biconomy are already making waves for crafting chain-abstracted sessions. Get into the details here: (docs.rhinestone.dev).

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Intents go mainstream: ERC-7683 and the Open Intents Framework

• It's super important to have a consistent way of discussing cross-chain actions.
  • ERC-7683, a collaboration between Uniswap Labs and Across, has introduced a standard called CrossChainOrder along with a settlement interface. This means that various intent systems can collaborate and utilize the same filler/solver network. A ton of L2s and projects are hopping on board, and even Vitalik has given his thumbs up for this approach. You can dive deeper into it here: (blog.uniswap.org)
• The Open Intents Framework (OIF)
  • Launching in February 2025, OIF is a collaboration between contributors from EF and over 25 different projects. The whole idea behind this initiative is to build a robust infrastructure for managing intents on a large scale--basically, it’s set to be a game changer for making cross-chain intent settlement super easy. For all the juicy details, head over to coindesk.com!
• Practical benefit
  • When your session is linked to an ERC-7683 order, any compliant solver gets the opportunity to fulfill it across various chains. This means your "session state" is directly tied to the order's lifecycle and its settlement proof. It's a solid method for keeping your application state consistent, even if the group of solvers shifts over time.
• Performance note
  • When it comes to Across’s intents-powered flow, it's all about those sweet sub-3-second L2↔L2 fills for orders under $10k--ideal for those moments when you're racing against the clock. Just a little heads up, though: while this setup really enhances the user experience, don’t use it for your final accounting. You’ll want to rely on the settlement proofs for your official numbers. For more info, check it out here: (outposts.io)

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Messaging and settlement rails you can trust (and configure)

• LayerZero v2: Configurable Verification with DVNs
  • LayerZero V2 is a pretty exciting update! It breaks down the verification process (DVNs) from the execution side (Executors), which gives you a lot more flexibility. Now, you can set it up to require X-of-Y-of-N DVNs to confirm the payload hash before it goes out. This means you can mix and match different trust models like committees, ZK light clients, native bridge adaptors, and even institutional DVNs, like Deutsche Telekom MMS. Plus, you can customize the settings for each route and message! If you want to dive deeper, check out the details here.
  • Here’s a quick example of how you might configure a receive setting: let’s say you want to require 2 DVNs for confirmations, keep 4 as optional, and need at least 2 from that optional group. You can also use Polyhedra ZK as the must-have option and then choose any two from the four optional DVNs. This whole “security stack” is tailored specifically to your application instead of being locked to the bridge itself. For more info, take a look here.
• Chainlink CCIP v1.5 + CCT
  • Great news! The CCIP 1.5 update has officially landed on the mainnet, bringing along the Cross-Chain Token (CCT) standard. It also rolled out the CCIP Token Manager, making onboarding a breeze. And get this--there are now optional Token Developer Attestations for mint/unlock verification. This is a game-changer for those of you wanting to keep asset flows compliant, especially in more corporate settings. Looking ahead, by Q1 2025, CCIP plans to expand to about 50 chains and it's already the go-to infrastructure for several networks. Want to dive deeper? Check out the details here.
• Wormhole Gateway for IBC and changes in security posture
  • The Gateway is a nifty Cosmos appchain that adds an extra layer of verification for Wormhole messages, letting you route them through IBC/ICS-20 without any extra bridging fees. Just a heads-up: by 2025, some networks are going to be phased out by the Guardian set, so be sure to keep tabs on which chains are supported as things evolve. (theblock.co)

What this means is that for every intent you finalize, be sure to jot down which verification stack confirmed the path, like “DVN config v3” or “CCIP CCT with dev attestation.” Instead of thinking of “cross-chain” as just one trust model, consider it more like a versioned option that you can attest to and revisit later on.

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Finality, reorgs, and confirmation rules you must encode

• Currently, Ethereum's mainnet finality is hanging around 15 minutes. The SSF research team is putting in some serious effort to shorten that to just a few seconds. Still, it's a good idea to plan for a canonical finality timeframe of about 12-15 minutes by 2025. Just keep this in mind when you're considering session expiry and compensation timeouts. If you want to dive deeper, check it out here.
• When diving into Layer 2 solutions, you'll notice there are a few different views on what finality really means. You've got soft finality, which focuses on sequencer acceptance. Then there's the L1 data-availability posting, and we can’t forget about bridge finality, which deals with those withdrawal windows for optimistic rollups. While the user experience might feel almost instantaneous, the real deal on settlement hinges on the confirmation rules outlined in your contract. If you're looking for the fastest experience, you might want to think about using liquidity networks, but don’t forget to settle with a bit of caution. For more details, check this out here.

Recent studies are bringing attention to the concept of “fast roots” paired with zk-settlement to enhance bridge-level assurances. Be sure to watch for OIF integrations as they’ll help pinpoint the most secure areas for enforcing intent settlement in 2025-2026. You can read more about it here: (blog.ethereum.org).

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Design pattern: a cross-chain “Session of Record”

Anchor each session to one solid source of truth by using these three layers:

1) Identity and Scope

• If you’re looking to scope accounts across different chains, definitely check out CAIP-10/2. And for on-chain binary use, CAIP-350 is the way to go! It combines (address, chain) across namespaces into one tidy little bundle. Want to dive deeper? You can find more info here.
• Now, when you’re dealing with Externally Owned Accounts (EOAs), make sure to use EIP-7702 to authorize delegation to your “SessionExecutor” contract. If you can swing it, lock by chain_id; only resort to “0” if you’re managing per-chain permissions through the wallet capability layer. For more insights, check it out here.

2) Session Issuance and Permissions

• Wallet Negotiation: Let’s dive into how wallets interact with each other! You can start by checking out their capabilities using ERC-5792 through the wallet_getCapabilities method. When you're all set, just go ahead and ask for the specific permissions you need with ERC-7715 using wallet_grantPermissions. Here’s what you can specify:
  • signerTypes: You can pick from key, wallet, or account.
  • permissionTypes: This includes options like token transfer limits, target allowlists, and method allowlists.
  • expiry and per-chain scopes: You can handle these with CAIP-25 sessionProperties or scopedProperties. Want to dig deeper? Check it out here.
• Smart-Account Layer: If you’re looking to level up your setup, think about adding an ERC-7579-compatible SmartSession module, such as Rhinestone or Biconomy. This allows you to mint scoped session keys just once and use them on multiple chains. It’s been tested and proven in real-world applications, specifically designed for cross-chain and chain-abstracted sessions. Take a look on GitHub.

3) Attest and Audit

• First off, you’ll want to whip up an EAS attestation that acts as the “session of record.” Make sure you cover the following details: who (the subject’s DID or account), what (permissions, DVN/CCIP policy, solver allowlist), where (the CAIP chain set), when (expiry/nonce window), and why (the business purpose). It’s smart to keep a revocation list handy and to issue fulfillment attestations once an intent settles. EAS is super popular these days, making waves on both mainnet and L2s, plus there are some really useful scanners and SDKs out there. Give it a look at (attest.org).

Implementation detail: We're signing session payloads with EIP-712 and validating them using ERC-1271. To steer clear of any replay issues across accounts, we're enclosing everything in ERC-7739. If an account hasn't been set up on a specific destination chain yet, we'll verify the signatures with ERC-6492. (eips.ethereum.org)

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Execution under intents: keeping session state consistent

A Solid Intent Execution Pipeline for Cross-Chain Sessions Needs to:

• Handle multiple blockchains seamlessly: It’s essential that your pipeline can interact with various blockchains without any hassle. This means being able to read and write data across different networks smoothly.
• Ensure security across chains: With the added complexity of multiple chains, security should be a top priority. Implementing robust measures to prevent vulnerabilities is key to safeguarding transactions and data.
• Provide a user-friendly interface: Make it easy for users to manage their cross-chain sessions. A clean, intuitive interface can significantly enhance the overall experience.
• Support efficient state management: Keeping track of the state across different blockchains can be tricky. A solid pipeline should make it easy to manage and synchronize states effectively.
• Enable real-time interaction: For a dynamic user experience, your pipeline needs to support real-time communications. This way, users can execute their intents instantly without lag.
• Facilitate interoperability: Your pipeline should allow for seamless interaction between different blockchain protocols. This means being able to transfer assets or information without any friction.
• Handle various intents smoothly: Whether it’s a simple transaction or a complex multi-step process, your pipeline should be flexible enough to handle diverse intents effortlessly.

By focusing on these key areas, you’ll create a robust intent execution pipeline that works like a charm for cross-chain sessions!

• First up, you’ll want to kick things off by expressing your action as an ERC-7683 CrossChainOrder. Make sure to escrow the user’s funds at the settlement contract, and then go ahead and publish the order to the shared filler networks. For all the nitty-gritty details, take a look at the post on Uniswap's blog.
• Next up, you’ll want to authorize a session key using ERC-7715 or set up a delegation with ERC-7702 for your SessionExecutor. And hey, make sure you set those limits--like assets, spending caps, call targets, and time! If you're looking for more details, check out the EIP documentation.
• Alright, let's figure out the best messaging rail based on your route:
  • If you're looking at EVM↔EVM, you've got two great choices on the table: LayerZero v2, which comes with an explicit DVN stack (think of it as requiring ZK plus those optional 2-of-4 DVNs), and a preferred Executor; or you can go with CCIP 1.5, which offers CCT and Token Developer Attestations for your assets. Don’t forget to jot down the rail and configuration in the fulfillment attestation. For more nitty-gritty details, check out the LayerZero docs.
  • If you’re crossing over from EVM to Cosmos, your best bet is to use the Wormhole Gateway path along with IBC translation. Just keep an eye on those Guardian network deprecations and steer clear of starting new sessions with any unsupported chains. For further insights, take a look at The Block.
• Remember to stick to those confirmation rules:
  • Make sure to hold off on marking the session step as “committed” until you see the L1-final DA posting (which acts like rollup “hard finality”) or until your bridge verification event happens, such as CCIP delivery or LZ SecurityStack quorum. If you need more details, check out the LayerZero overview.
• When you're ready, go ahead and publish a fulfillment EAS attestation that covers:
  • The Order ID, Solver ID, route, DVN/rail config version, source and destination transaction hashes, plus any relevant Merkle proofs.
  • In case you hit a partial failure, don’t forget to publish a compensating attestation and start the Saga compensations (like doing a reverse transfer or issuing a fee refund).

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Example: 24-hour cross-chain trading session with solver competition

Scenario Overview

Imagine you’re diving into a fintech app designed to simplify your investing journey. This app is giving you the chance to set up an automatic investment plan, where you can say, “Hey, go ahead and auto-DCA 1,000 USDC from Base to ETH on Arbitrum every 6 hours for 1 day.” The cool part? This whole thing gets settled through a competitive solver network.

Key Elements:

• Amount: You want to convert 1,000 USDC automatically.
• Asset: The asset you're aiming for is ETH (Ethereum).
• Source: Your starting currency is USDC.
• Frequency: This will take place every 6 hours.
• Duration: It’s going to run for 1 day.
• Settlement: It's backed by a competitive solver network, which guarantees top-notch execution.

This setup is a real game-changer for managing your investments. It lets you ride the market waves without needing to stare at your screens all day. And hey, with a solid network of competitive solvers behind you, you can kick back knowing you’re snagging the best deals every time.

• Session Issuance
  • First up, the app gets rolling by sending a request for wallet_grantPermissions using the ERC-7715 standard. Here's what that involves:
    • signerType: it’s a combo of a session key and a wallet fallback.
    • permissionTypes: so, this covers erc20 transfers (hello USDC!), a list of call targets that are approved (think Across/CCIP adapters and Uniswap/CoW settlements), a spending cap of 250 USDC per call, and a 24-hour expiry. The chains at play here are eip155:8453 (Base) and eip155:42161 (Arbitrum). If everything’s set up right, the wallet will also update you on atomic transactions, paymaster details, and auxiliary funds. (eips.ethereum.org)
  • Next, the user hops in to sign a type-4 transaction (that’s 7702) which gives the green light to the SessionExecutor on chain_id=0 (this one’s global) and is nonce-bound. The wallet is on top of it, making sure it follows any chain-specific rules based on the permissions context. (ethereum.org)
  • Finally, the app records an EAS “SessionOfRecord” attestation, which comes with limits, a DVN policy, and a list of approved solvers.

Intent Expression and Routing

• For each DCA slice, the app jumps into action by launching an ERC-7683 order. Then, solvers go head-to-head, and the one that wins gets to choose between two options:
  • An L2 transfer using Across for a quick fill, settling through the ERC-7683 escrow; or
  • A CCIP CCT route for native tokenized USDC lanes, wherever they're available.
• When it comes to EVM↔EVM routes that require programmable messaging, the app leans on LayerZero v2 with a DVN setup. This setup includes everything needed, like the ZK light client and a 2-of-4 DVN configuration, which has both a middlechain and a native bridge adaptor. (blog.uniswap.org)
• Delivery, Confirmation, and Closeout
  • Once the message gets the green light, the SessionExecutor springs into action, calling up Uniswap/CoW settlement on Arbitrum. Thanks to CoW's cool solver model, you'll snag the best price for your batch. Oh, and don’t forget to publish that fulfillment attestation along with the txids and DVN quorum metadata. For the nitty-gritty details, check it out here.
  • If a route gets unsupported (like when Wormhole Guardians decide to phase out a chain), the session manager will block any new orders to that chain and flag the session as “degraded.” This will trigger the wallet to request updated permissions or a fresh route. Get the full scoop on that here.
  • When it's time to wrap things up or if you need to revoke something, just shoot a 7702 “reset to null address” to revoke delegation, and be sure to mark the EAS session as revoked. You can find more info here.

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Operational guardrails (what teams actually enforce in prod)

• Keep an eye on your trust model
  • Remember to jot down the exact DVN quorum or CCIP/CCT policy you’re using for each message. If you tweak anything about a verifier, threshold, or chain parameter, make sure to update the policy version linked to session attestations. This helps keep everything organized for forensic tracking. (docs.layerzero.network)
• Simulate like a bundler
  • Be sure to follow ERC-7562 guidelines for off-chain simulation, especially when dealing with those session-driven 4337 UserOps. We want to avoid any nasty griefing, so if a session can’t be simulated in a predictable way, it’s best to just turn it down. (docs.erc4337.io)
• Use nonces the right way
  • When you're dealing with 7702 authorizations, the “nonce” field in the authorization tuple is super important. It links the delegation to a specific EOA nonce--kind of like your basic replay fence. If you're into native AA (RIP-7560) roadmaps, make sure to pay attention to multi-dimensional nonces (RIP-7712) so you can handle those parallelized agent flows like a pro. (ethereum.org)
• Counterfactual wallets across chains
  • Take a look at ERC-6492 for checking pre-deploy signatures. This lets users start their sessions even before their smart account goes live on any of the destination chains. (eips.ethereum.org)
• Attest or it didn’t happen
  • Whenever you create, fulfill, or cancel a session, be sure to issue EAS attestations. This is super important for keeping things compliant down the line (think CCIP Token Developer Attestations) and gives the Customer Support teams a useful record to reference in case any disputes pop up. You can learn more at (attest.org).
• Keep an eye on the rails
  • It’s super important to monitor LayerZero Scan and CCIP Explorer (or whatever provider APIs you’re using) to catch any stuck messages, check if DVN is available, or see if any chains are being deprecated--especially with Wormhole. If you spot any problems along the affected routes, go ahead and auto-pause those sessions. You can dig into more details here: (docs.layerzero.network)
• Keep solvers honest
  • Using bonded solver networks like CoW can really help minimize griefing. It’s important to keep your allowlists in check, making sure they stick to ERC-7683 and OIF standards. And don’t think twice about revoking access if slippage violations happen or if there are multiple timeouts. (docs.cow.fi)

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Security pitfalls unique to cross-chain sessions (and how to fix them)

• Cross-chain replay
  • Alright, let’s break this down: even though we've got 7702 in play, those global delegations (chain_id=0) can still be vulnerable to replay attacks if your wallet’s policy isn’t secure enough. To stay safe, make sure to connect sessions to specific CAIP-2 chain lists and keep a close eye on those wallet-side checks for each chain. And remember to wrap your signatures with ERC-7739. (ethereum.org)
• Partial Settlement and State Skew
  • You might want to think about using a Saga pattern. If step N runs into issues after you've already delivered step N−1, it's a good idea to post a compensating action on the source chain, like issuing a refund or reverting the action. And don't forget to publish a compensating attestation! To avoid any chance of a “ghost success,” only mark the session as complete once you’ve hit your target confirmation rule (like the DVN quorum verified event). For more details, take a look here.
• Liquidity vs. Finality
  • Fast paths, such as liquidity networks, do wonders for user experience, but they can mess with your accounting if the final settlement doesn't match up. It’s smart to keep your “UX funds” separate from your “principal funds” in your ledger and make sure you’re reconciling everything based on proof-based settlement. Tools like Across and UniswapX that use ERC-7683 can definitely make this easier for you. Take a look here: (blog.uniswap.org)
• Decommissioned networks
  • Back in 2025, the Wormhole Guardian flagged a number of chains as deprecated. To ensure everything operates without a hitch, make sure your session router grabs the list of supported chains while it's running and blocks any new sessions for those networks that are affected. You can find more info here.

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Brief, in-depth: agentic execution and private orderflow

• Flashbots has just launched some really cool features on their SUAVE testnets: they've introduced TEE-backed “Kettles” and EIP-712 transaction signing for offchain/private computing, plus MEV-aware routing. This is super useful if you want agents to manage session keys while keeping everything under wraps. Expect to see more rollup support and exciting cross-chain capabilities soon, so don’t forget to set up your session model to allow a SUAVE runner to function as a permissioned delegate. Dive into all the details here!

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Build checklist (copy/paste for teams)

• Account and wallet
  • We're diving into ERC-5792! This means boosting atomic transactions, rolling out paymaster features, and adding auxiliaryFunds. Don't forget about the wallet_grantPermissions from ERC-7715.
  • We’ll also support EIP-7702's type-4 transactions, making it super easy for users to revoke delegation on the fly. Check it out here: (eips.ethereum.org)
• Smart-account modules
  • Feel free to dive in and install the ERC-7579 SmartSession along with the policy engine. Just make sure to turn on 7739 verification and 6492 for those counterfactual accounts. You can find all the details here: (github.com)
• Intent layer
  • Leverage ERC-7683 to convey cross-chain actions, link up with OIF-compatible filler networks, and establish firm slippage limits and timeouts. (blog.uniswap.org)
• Messaging rails
  • For LZ v2, make sure to lay out the required and optional DVN sets for each path. With CCIP 1.5 on the table, you’ll want to include CCT and, if needed, Token Developer Attestations. When it comes to the Cosmos routes, go with Gateway + IBC. You can dive deeper into this here.
• Attestations and Observability
  • EAS schema: SessionOfRecord, Fulfillment, Revocation. We should also include explorers like LayerZero Scan and CCIP Explorer, plus set up some alerts to catch any messages that might get stuck or reorged. Take a look here: (attest.org)
• Policies and Recovery
  • Get those confirmation rules in place (consider L1 finality vs. bridge finality), map out your sagas and compensations, and keep an updated runtime allowlist for solvers and the chains you’re backing. For more info, head over to (ethereum.org).

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What “good” looks like in 2025 (emerging best practices)

• Kick things off with 7702 for session bootstrapping straight from EOAs, then transition to ERC-7579 SmartSessions for those awesome, richer policies. Don't forget to keep everything wallet-discoverable with 5792!
• Whenever you make a move in the session lifecycle, make sure to publish it as an EAS attestation. Trust me, those audit trails speak louder than a bunch of screenshots!
• Think of cross-chain verification like TLS ciphersuites: you want it to be straightforward, versioned, and testable. Be sure to jot down the DVN/bridge policy that validated each intent.
• Stick with ERC-7683 orders so you can tap into shared filler networks. OIF is on the case, always working to cut down on integration hassles. (coindesk.com)
• For the time being, assume Ethereum finality is still about 15 minutes and tweak your compensation windows based on that. Don’t rely on those hypothetical SSF timelines when you're doing your product P&L. (ethereum.org)

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A closing note for decision‑makers

Cross-chain intents are finally making their way into the enterprise scene! Just remember, it's super important to have your session model outline identity, permissions, and settlement clearly.

Kick things off by anchoring your sessions with EAS. After that, you can negotiate capabilities using 5792/7715, and then run with ERC-7683 on customizable paths like LZ v2 DVNs, CCIP 1.5/CCT, or IBC through Gateway.

Don’t forget to establish your confirmation rules and compensation structures. With all that in place, you’ll be able to deliver a Web2-like user experience, all while keeping the verifiable guarantees that make Web3 so appealing!

Searching for the perfect reference architecture and threat model for your stack? Look no further than 7Block Labs! They’re here to help you launch a production-ready pilot in just 4-6 weeks. That means you'll get support across the board, from wallet UX and solver policy to attestation schemas and rail configuration.