- Cross-chain crime reached $21B in 2025, showing an urgent need for stronger security.
- The Open Intents Framework builds shared tools for safe Ethereum bridge transfers.
- Standardized systems can reduce risks and increase trust among users and regulators.
Coinbase Payments has joined the Open Intents Framework (OIF) as a core contributor to create standardized cross-chain asset transfers within Ethereum. The collaboration includes the Ethereum Foundation, Hyperlane, Across Protocol, OpenZeppelin, LI.FI Protocol, and DeFi Wonderland. Together, these groups are working to establish permissionless and secure systems for cross-chain interoperability.
This step comes at a time when there is an increase in cross-chain crime. According to Elliptic research, criminals have stolen or laundered more than $21 billion through cross-chain exploits. Losses tripled from $7 billion in 2023 to over $21 billion in 2025. Analysts warn that fragmented transfer systems make it easier for attackers to exploit weaknesses.
The OIF seeks to change this by offering modular, open-source tools for bridging assets. Current transfers often involve complex arrangements, slow development cycles, and inconsistent security practices. The framework aims to simplify these processes with uniform standards.
Building Technical Solutions for Fragmented Systems
Ethereum’s multichain ecosystem is considerably fragmented. For example, users trade DeFi on Arbitrum, engage in social activities on Base, and use AI applications on Mode. There is a varied set of bridges for each chain, adding complexity to transfers and, in some cases, creating security risks. Some criminals were able to take advantage of this, with chain-hopping now occurring in 33% of the investigations into crypto crime involving three or more blockchains.
Intent-based transfers in OIF allow an end-user to declare their intent, such as to swap tokens, and the system fulfills this process. The launch consists of an ERC-7683 implementation, an open-source TypeScript solver application, following composable smart contracts, and user interface templates that can all be customized to unite processes and lower risks associated with tailored bridging systems.
Vitalik Buterin’s prior EIPs laid the foundation of such systems. EIP-3370 was concerned with addressing standards, EIP-7683 with cross-chain communication, and EIP-3668 with off-chain data access. The OIF builds directly on these proposals to create functional, production-ready solutions. Ethereum Foundation researchers have ranked interoperability as the top development priority for the next 6–12 months.
Governance, Regulation, and User Adoption
Standardization goes beyond technical solutions. Governance of shared protocols will determine how standards are maintained, updated, and enforced across diverse stakeholders. Participants in the OIF include L2 operators, wallets, and exchanges working collectively to ensure consistency.
From a regulatory perspective, transparency in protocols should significantly alleviate concerns about money laundering and consumer exploitation. Regulators most often refrain from intervening in instances where systems operate as black boxes. Yet, with verifiable proof and shared governance, the oversight powers are exercisable.
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The crucial question is: Can such protocols restore institutional trust and mitigate systemic risks involved in cross-chain transfers? Regulators and institutions will examine whether the framework can deliver traceability and compliance while fixing the points of vulnerability.
This framework can benefit users. Many find existing bridging schemes complicated, from selecting a bridge to dealing with gas fees or even failed transactions. Intent-based transfers make it easy for users to cast their intents while the rest of the system handles the execution. This will increase the rates of adoption by lowering the technical barriers.
The network effects will favor the standardized systems that deliver safety, compatibility, and usability. Once adoption reaches its critical mass, these protocols may soon turn Ethereum’s multichain universe into a safer and more reliable financial infrastructure.
