Pectra Compatibility
With the Ethereum Pectra upgrade supported in Sonic release 2.1, the network gains full compatibility with ERC-4337, a transformative framework originally introduced on Ethereum.
ERC-4337 replaces traditional externally owned accounts (EOAs) with smart contract wallets that have programmable authorization logic. This enables advanced features such as:
Social Recovery Restore access with help from trusted guardians.
Multi-Signature Security Require multiple approvals before executing transactions.
Spending Limits Enforce daily/weekly caps on outgoing funds.
Token-Based Gas Payments Pay fees in ERC-20 tokens instead of the native token.
Unlike protocol-level changes, ERC-4337 operates entirely on top of the blockchain. No network hard fork is required, making it immediately compatible with Sonic post-Pectra. It works through a specialized flow involving UserOperations, an alternative mempool, bundlers, and optional paymasters for gas fee handling.
This upgrade fundamentally improves the Sonic user experience, unlocking customizable, secure, and user-friendly wallets without sacrificing decentralization or performance.
Core Concepts
Smart Wallet An ERC-4337 smart wallet extends the functionality of a standard EOA by delegating control to a smart contract. This enables transaction batching, gas sponsorship, and custom permission logic while still functioning like a traditional wallet.
EntryPoint The EntryPoint contract is the core of ERC-4337. It validates signatures, nonces, and logical rules defined by each wallet. It can also enforce custom conditions such as balance checks, restricted contract calls, or app-specific rules.
UserOperation
A UserOperation is a generalized transaction format for ERC-4337. It contains standard fields like sender, recipient, calldata, maxFeePerGas, maxPriorityFeePerGas, signature, and nonce, along with additional fields such as callGasLimit, verificationGasLimit, and paymasterAndData to support advanced execution logic.
Bundler A bundler collects UserOperations from the alternative mempool, simulates them for validity, and packages them into a single transaction sent to the EntryPoint. Bundlers may also forward standard transactions to a full node for normal blockchain processing.
Paymaster A paymaster is a smart contract that sponsors gas fees on behalf of users, allowing them to transact without holding the network’s native token. During validation, the paymaster checks if the operation qualifies for sponsorship and covers the gas cost. To prevent abuse, paymasters stake collateral with the EntryPoint and must maintain a sufficient deposit.
Related Topics
Account Abstraction Customize transaction authorization logic with smart contract wallets.
Fee Subsidies Let users interact with an app without paying gas themselves.
Dynamic Fees Monetize app usage via increased gas consumption.
Alternative Fee Payments Accept ERC-20 tokens or off-chain settlement for gas fees.
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