New Ethereum Proposal Bears Striking Resemblance to VeChain

Ethereum is working on a new way for transactions and accounts to function on the network through EIP-8141. The proposal brings transaction bundling, flexible gas fee payments and programmable account behaviour closer to the protocol itself. VeChain points out that several of the underlying ideas have been part of VeChainThor for years. The two systems are not the same, however. In particular, the Ethereum proposal goes further when it comes to account abstraction.

VeChain sees clear similarities with Ethereum

A key part of EIP-8141 involves executing multiple actions within a single transaction. VeChainThor supports something comparable through so-called Clauses. One transaction can include multiple contract interactions or transfers, which are executed one by one.

This works on an all-or-nothing basis. If one element cannot be executed successfully, the entire transaction fails.

There is also a notable similarity around transaction costs. Through VIP 191, VeChainThor allows someone other than the user who initiates the transaction to pay the transaction fees. An application, for example, can cover those costs for its users.

VeChain also builds additional conditions directly into transactions. BlockRef and Expiration can be used to determine when a transaction is valid, while DependsOn can make a transaction dependent on the successful execution of an earlier transaction.

EIP-8141 goes further with programmable accounts

VeChain itself makes clear that EIP-8141 is not a copy of VeChainThor. Ethereum has chosen a different architecture and is trying to extend the possibilities further in the direction of account abstraction.

Within that framework, transaction validation can also become programmable. That opens up possibilities such as smart accounts with their own rules and alternative ways of signing transactions.

The Ethereum proposal also uses a more general model for bundling and executing different actions. Those who want to inspect the technical details can read the full EIP-8141 proposal on Ethereum. The proposal is currently in draft status, so it has not been finalised as a definitive change to Ethereum.

VeChain sees confirmation of earlier choices

For VeChain, the comparison is less about which network introduced particular features first. The project sees a broader development in which blockchains are increasingly trying to take technical complexity away from end users.

That principle has long been part of VeChainThor’s design. A user, for example, does not necessarily have to manage the gas token themselves when an application covers the transaction costs.

With EIP-8141, Ethereum is now also moving towards a protocol in which applications have more flexibility around the execution, validation and payment of transaction costs.

The exact technical solutions differ, but the goals are drawing closer together: blockchain applications should work more simply, without users constantly having to deal with the technical components of a blockchain.