Ethereum’s evolution is driven by structured, community-led processes. A significant recent change was the formal separation of the Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) and Ethereum Request for Comments (ERC) repositories, enacted through EIP-7329. This update reorganizes how core protocol and application-layer standards are managed, providing clearer governance pathways for developers and contributors.
This shift aims to enhance organizational efficiency and support dedicated communities for both EIPs and ERCs. For builders and participants within the Ethereum ecosystem, understanding these changes is crucial for effective contribution and innovation.
What Are EIPs and ERCs?
EIPs and ERCs are foundational to Ethereum’s development. They are formal proposal documents that outline standards, features, or processes for the Ethereum network.
Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) describe standards for the Ethereum core protocol, including consensus changes, network upgrades, and critical amendments.
Ethereum Request for Comments (ERCs) focus on application-level standards. These include token standards (like ERC-20 or ERC-721), smart contract interfaces, and other utilities built on top of the Ethereum blockchain.
Both follow a structured workflow—from ideation and drafting to review, discussion, and finalization. Community feedback and expert consensus play vital roles in moving proposals forward.
The Rationale Behind the EIP/ERC Split
The division into separate repositories under EIP-7329 was proposed to reduce organizational friction and improve clarity. Before the split, both EIPs and ERCs were managed within a single repository, which sometimes led to confusion regarding scope and prioritization.
Now, the EIP repository deals exclusively with core protocol upgrades, while the ERC repository handles application-level standards. This allows:
- Specialized focus for editors and contributors.
- Smoother governance tailored to each domain.
- Reduced backlog and better management of proposals.
This structural change supports Ethereum’s growing diversity of development—from low-layer protocol optimizations to dApp-level innovations.
The Proposal Lifecycle: From Idea to Finalization
A proposal goes through several stages before becoming a standard:
- Idea Drafting: A contributor outlines the idea and shares it for preliminary feedback.
- Draft Submission: The proposal is submitted to the relevant repository (EIP or ERC) as a pull request.
- Community Review: Developers, researchers, and stakeholders discuss, refine, and challenge the proposal.
- Formal Review: Editors and experts examine the proposal for technical soundness, security, and alignment with Ethereum’s goals.
- Finalization: Once approved, the proposal is merged and assigned a final status (e.g., Final, Active, or Deprecated).
Achieving consensus requires persistent effort: presenting at developer conferences, soliciting peer reviews, and incorporating critical feedback.
Roles in EIP and ERC Ecosystem Development
Multiple roles support the proposal ecosystem:
- Authors: Individuals or teams drafting and advocating proposals.
- Editors: Review and manage proposals for technical and editorial quality.
- Implementers: Develop and test reference implementations.
- Community Advocates: Facilitate discussions and build consensus around proposals.
Organizations like the Ethereum Cat Herders and communities like AllERCDevs also help in coordinating efforts, organizing meetings, and providing resources.
Collaboration across these roles ensures robust, well-vetted standards that serve the entire ecosystem.
Challenges and Improvements in Governance
Despite its community-driven nature, Ethereum’s governance faces challenges:
- Stakeholder Diversity: Core protocol decisions often involve a limited group of experts, which can slow down inclusivity.
- Process Scalability: As the number of proposals grows, maintaining timely and thorough reviews becomes difficult.
- Documentation and Accessibility: Newcomers may find it hard to navigate the submission and review process.
Suggested improvements include:
- Better onboarding for new contributors.
- More transparent and frequent status updates for proposals.
- Stronger incentives for community participation, such as grants or recognition.
These steps could make Ethereum’s governance more adaptive and representative. 👉 Explore more strategies for contributing
What the Repository Split Means for Builders
For developers and projects, the EIP/ERC separation brings practical benefits:
- Clearer Standards Development: Application-layer standards (ERCs) can evolve without being overshadowed by core protocol EIPs.
- Focused Contribution: Builders can engage more directly in the ERC process, proposing and improving standards relevant to dApps and smart contracts.
- Faster Iteration: With dedicated maintainers and processes, both tracks can operate more efficiently.
This update reinforces Ethereum’s commitment to decentralized, open innovation—enabling builders to propose, standardize, and implement ideas with greater support.
The Future of Ethereum Governance
The EIP/ERC split is a step toward more modular and scalable governance. Future developments might include:
- Enhanced tooling for proposal tracking and collaboration.
- Increased cross-community communication between core and app developers.
- Continued efforts to decentralize decision-making and encourage global participation.
Ethereum’s strength lies in its community. By refining its processes, Ethereum can continue to serve as a leading platform for open, transparent, and innovative blockchain development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an EIP and an ERC?
EIPs cover changes to Ethereum’s core protocol, such as consensus rules or network upgrades. ERCs define application-level standards, like token interfaces or contract specifications.
How can I contribute to an EIP or ERC?
You can participate by drafting proposals, providing feedback during community reviews, contributing to reference implementations, or joining groups like the Ethereum Cat Herders that support the proposal process.
Why was the repository split necessary?
The separation helps streamline the management of proposals, reduces organizational complexity, and allows both core and application-level standards to evolve with focused oversight.
Who approves EIPs and ERCs?
Proposals are reviewed and approved through community consensus, with input from editors, developers, and other stakeholders. Final ratification often involves broader agreement within the ecosystem.
Are there rewards for contributing to EIPs/ERCs?
While there’s no direct monetary reward, contributors gain recognition, influence future standards, and help shape the ecosystem. Some grant programs may also fund development efforts.
Where can I find existing EIPs and ERCs?
The official repositories are hosted on GitHub. The EIPs site (eips.ethereum.org) and ERC Ref site (ercref.org) are also valuable resources.