Exploring the Intent-Centric Ecosystem: Projects to Follow

A new user interaction method is emerging in the Web3 space - Intent-Centric. This method allows users to express their needs and obtain results without losing autonomy, while the complex implementation process is handled by protocols or third-party solvers.

The Intent-Centric model can greatly enhance the user experience, composability, and privacy of Web3. From the user experience perspective, it simplifies the interaction process, allowing users to focus only on their goals and outcomes. In terms of composability, protocol applications tailored to user intentions can achieve maximum compatibility, fostering a richer ecosystem. Regarding privacy, users only need to express their intentions, avoiding the disclosure of detailed personal information.

Although Web2 has provided many convenient user experiences, the high threshold of Web3 still hinders its widespread adoption. Even simple token swap operations involve complex steps. Therefore, the emergence of Intent-Centric is not accidental; it works alongside technologies such as account abstraction, TGBot, and MPC wallets to promote the popularization of Web3.

Infrastructure Related to Intent

Account Abstraction

Account abstraction technology emphasizes the use of more specific smart accounts to accomplish specific tasks. The ERC-4337 standard implements smart accounts, providing multiple login methods and social recovery features, reducing the usage threshold for new users. Features like bundling transactions and gas payment on behalf of users in smart accounts also contribute to achieving Intent-Centric. Currently, projects like Safe Wallet, Biconomy, ZeroDev, and Argent are all working on implementing account abstraction.

AI technology

Integrating an AI assistant similar to ChatGPT in wallets, allowing users to express their intentions through dialogue, could be the ultimate form of Intent-Centric. AI is also an effective tool for interpreting user intentions. The award-winning projects Bob the Solver and Particle Network from the ETHGlobal Paris hackathon are working in this direction. However, AI still faces challenges in accuracy when capturing complex intentions.

MEV problem

MEV (Miner Extractable Value) has long been a challenge in the DeFi space. In the Intent-Centric model, transaction execution needs to be outsourced to solvers, so the MEV issue still requires focused attention. Projects like Essential and Flashbot SUAVE are attempting to address this problem.

Intent-Centric Infrastructure

• Juvix: A programming language developed for a public blockchain, used to implement application logic containing public, secret, and encrypted data.
• Bob the Solver: Combines AI solvers and account abstraction wallets to interpret user intent and execute the optimal trading path.
• OKcontract: Create a "Low-level Intent" standard to simplify the difficulty for developers to integrate transactions into applications.
• Delegatable: A universal delegation tool on Ethereum that allows users to delegate operations to others without paying Gas fees.

Decentralized Applications with Specific Intent

Many existing DeFi protocols have already implemented the concept of Intent-Centric to some extent. For example:

• Aggregators (such as 1inch, Blur) help users find the best trading paths and yield strategies.
• Telegram trading bots (such as Unibot) simplify complex on-chain operations into chat options.
• Some new and old DeFi protocols are dedicated to solving MEV and slippage issues, such as CoWSwap, UniswapX, Seaport, and so on.
• Symmio and BASED Markets provide intent-based on-chain peer-to-peer derivatives trading.
• BananaHq builds smart wallets using Intent-Centric, account abstraction, and zero-knowledge proofs.

General Solutions

Some projects are creating general solutions for Intent-Centric to support more complex intent realization.

Certain Intent-Centric Public Chain

This is a public chain project focused on counterparty discovery, parsing, and multi-chain atomic settlement. It supports users in issuing an unlimited number of complex intents and provides privacy protection features. The project has received substantial funding, and although it is still in the early stages, it is technically leading.

Essential

Essential is building a general solution centered around intent, including intent expression standards, intent-oriented account abstraction standards, and a new Intent-Centric blockchain.

dappOS

dappOS is the first Web3 operating protocol that integrates multiple industry-leading decentralized applications by providing multi-chain smart accounts and a solver network. Users can perform cross-chain operations as easily as using centralized exchanges.

Particle Network

Particle Network upgrades from an MPC wallet to an Intent-Centric Web3 access layer. Its V2 version builds a solver network on the existing wallet and adds an AI assistant, allowing users to directly express their intentions to the AI, which will automatically execute the optimal path.

These projects each have their own characteristics. dappOS is similar to the WeChat Mini Program platform, Particle Network V2 is more like ChatGPT, while a certain public chain and Essential are committed to reshaping the Web3 infrastructure. Although the road is long, once mature, these solutions are expected to drive a new wave of growth for decentralized applications and usher in a new era for Web3.