Every major change to the Ethereum network — from the way fees are calculated to the introduction of new token standards — starts with a document. That document is called an Ethereum Improvement Proposal, or EIP. Understanding how EIPs work gives you a window into how one of the world’s most important blockchains evolves, who gets to shape it, and why the process is designed the way it is.
Whether you’re a developer, an investor, or simply a curious user, this guide covers everything you need to know about EIPs — what they are, the different types, how they move through the review process, and which ones have had the biggest impact on Ethereum.
What Is an EIP?
An Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) is a formal design document that proposes a new feature, a protocol change, or a standard for the Ethereum ecosystem. The concept was inspired by the Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) system and has been in use since Ethereum’s earliest days. EIP-1, the document that defines the EIP process itself, was created in October 2015 — just months after the network launched.
EIPs serve several critical functions. They are the primary mechanism for proposing changes to Ethereum, provide a structured way to collect community feedback, and create a permanent, public record of every decision made about the network. Because EIPs are stored as text files in a public GitHub repository, anyone can read them, comment on them, or submit their own.
Crucially, EIPs are not controlled by any single company or authority. Ethereum has no CEO who can push through changes unilaterally. Instead, proposals must earn broad consensus from developers, researchers, node operators, and the wider community — a process that can take months or even years for complex changes. This open governance model is one of Ethereum’s defining characteristics.
EIP Types
Not all EIPs are created equal. Each proposal falls into one of three categories depending on what it aims to change. Understanding these types helps you quickly assess what a given EIP actually does — and how much of the Ethereum ecosystem it affects.
| Type | What It Does | Requires Consensus? |
|---|---|---|
| Standards Track | Proposes changes to the protocol, networking layer, or application standards (ERCs) | Yes — for Core sub-types |
| Meta | Defines or updates the EIP process and governance procedures | No |
| Informational | Shares guidelines, design notes, or best practices — no changes proposed | No |
Standards Track EIPs
Standards Track EIPs are the most impactful category. They describe changes that affect most or all Ethereum implementations — from core consensus rules to new application-level standards. This type is divided into four sub-types, each targeting a different layer of the stack:
| Sub-type | What It Covers | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Protocol-level changes requiring a consensus fork — EVM updates, block validation rules, or consensus mechanism changes | EIP-1559 (fee market reform) |
| Networking | Improvements to the peer-to-peer networking layer, including the devp2p protocol | EIP-8 (networking upgrades) |
| Interface | Language-level standards such as method names, contract ABIs, and client API specifications | EIP-6 (opcode rename) |
| ERC | Application-level standards for smart contracts, token formats, and wallet interfaces | ERC-20, ERC-721 |
Core EIPs are the most technically demanding — they require all major Ethereum clients to update their software simultaneously. ERCs, on the other hand, are the most developer-facing: they define the interfaces that make tokens, NFTs, and dApps interoperable across the entire ecosystem.
Meta EIPs
Meta EIPs (also called Process EIPs) describe changes to the EIP process itself or to other governance procedures around Ethereum. They don’t modify the protocol code directly — instead, they shape how decisions are made. EIP-1, the foundational document that defines how all other EIPs should be written and reviewed, is itself a Meta EIP. Think of Meta EIPs as the rulebook for the rulebook.
Informational EIPs
Informational EIPs provide general guidelines, design notes, or background information to the Ethereum community. They don’t propose changes and don’t require community consensus — they’re closer to reference documents or best-practice guides. Developers are free to follow or ignore them. While they carry no binding authority, well-written Informational EIPs often become widely adopted conventions across the ecosystem.
The EIP Lifecycle
Every Ethereum Improvement Proposal goes through a defined set of stages before it can be considered final. The process is designed to ensure thorough review, broad community input, and technical soundness. Here’s how it works from start to finish.
➤ Idea
Before writing a formal EIP, the author is encouraged to share their idea on the Ethereum Magicians forum or other community channels. This informal vetting step helps avoid wasting time on proposals that duplicate existing work or that the community has already rejected. Getting early feedback is key to a successful EIP.
➤ Draft
Once the idea has been shaped into a formal document following the EIP template, it is submitted as a pull request to the EIP GitHub repository. An EIP editor reviews the submission for formatting and completeness. If it meets the requirements, it is merged and assigned an EIP number. At this stage, the proposal is in active development and open to public feedback.
➤ Review
When the author believes the EIP is ready for broader peer review, they mark it as “Review.” This signals to the community and EIP editors that the proposal is mature enough for serious technical scrutiny. Reviewers may request changes, raise concerns, or suggest improvements before it can advance.
➤ Last Call
Last Call is the final review window before a proposal moves to Final status. It lasts a minimum of two weeks. During this period, the community makes any remaining objections or edits. If no substantial changes are needed, the EIP advances. If significant issues are raised, it is sent back to Review.
➤ Final
A Final EIP represents a completed standard. For Core EIPs, this means the change has been implemented by Ethereum client teams and deployed to the network. For ERCs, it means the standard has been widely reviewed and is considered stable. Final EIPs are not modified — if changes are needed, a new EIP is created.
Other Statuses
Not every EIP reaches Final status. Some are marked Stagnant if they haven’t been updated in six months, Withdrawn if the author decides to abandon them, or Living if they are meant to be continuously updated (EIP-1 itself has Living status). These statuses help keep the EIP repository clean and accurately reflect the real state of each proposal.
Who Decides?
One of the most common questions about EIPs is: who actually has the power to approve or reject them? The honest answer is that there is no single decision-maker. Ethereum uses a model of rough consensus, where changes are accepted when there is broad agreement among key stakeholders — without requiring a formal vote or unanimous agreement.
For Core EIPs, the most important forum is the AllCoreDevs call — a regular video call where Ethereum client developers (the teams that build and maintain software like Geth, Nethermind, and Besu) discuss and coordinate protocol changes. These calls are public, recorded, and open to observers. If client teams agree to implement a Core EIP, it will be included in an upcoming network upgrade. If they don’t, it won’t — regardless of how popular the idea might be in the broader community.
EIP editors play a different role: they are not gatekeepers of ideas, but administrators of the process. Their job is to ensure proposals are properly formatted, clearly written, and correctly categorized. They do not approve or reject EIPs on technical merit — that judgment belongs to the community.
Notable EIPs
The best way to understand the impact of Ethereum Improvement Proposals is to look at the ones that have already shaped Ethereum into what it is today. Here are five of the most significant.
ERCs vs. EIPs
You’ll often see the terms EIP and ERC used separately, and it’s worth understanding the distinction. ERC stands for Ethereum Request for Comment, and it refers specifically to the application-layer standards within the EIP system — the sub-category that covers token standards, wallet interfaces, and other smart contract conventions.
In practice, all ERCs are EIPs, but not all EIPs are ERCs. ERC-20 is formally EIP-20; ERC-721 is EIP-721. The “ERC” label is used by convention to refer to standards that developers build on top of, while “EIP” is the broader term for any proposal in the system. When someone says “the ERC-20 standard,” they’re referring to the application-level token interface. When someone says “EIP-1559,” they’re referring to a core protocol change.
How to Follow EIPs
You don’t need to be a developer to stay on top of what’s changing in Ethereum. The EIP process is fully public, and the resources are free and open to everyone. Here’s how to get started in five simple steps.
Pro tip: If you want a curated weekly digest instead of tracking everything yourself, the Week in Ethereum News newsletter covers notable EIP activity every week in plain English — a great shortcut for staying informed without information overload.
Always Evolving
The EIP process is one of Ethereum’s greatest strengths. It allows a global, decentralized community to coordinate complex technical changes without a central authority — transparently, publicly, and openly. Every major upgrade Ethereum has ever shipped, from the London hard fork to The Merge to Dencun, started as an Ethereum Improvement Proposal.
Whether you’re tracking upcoming changes, evaluating a new token standard, or simply trying to understand why gas fees work the way they do, the EIP system is your roadmap to understanding Ethereum’s past, present, and future.
Continue Learning
FAQ
Can anyone submit an EIP?
Yes. Anyone can write and submit an EIP by opening a pull request on the EIP GitHub repository. There are no gatekeepers based on identity or credentials. However, the proposal must follow the EIP template, be clearly written, and offer a genuine improvement. Low-quality or duplicate submissions will be rejected by EIP editors during the formatting review.
How long does it take for an EIP to be accepted?
It varies enormously. Simple ERC standards can move through the process in a few months if there’s strong community support. Core EIPs that require a consensus fork can take years — EIP-1559, for example, was proposed in 2019 and activated in 2021. The timeline depends on technical complexity, community consensus, and the coordination required across client teams.
What is the difference between an EIP and a hard fork?
An EIP is a proposal document. A hard fork is a network upgrade that implements one or more Core EIPs. For example, the London hard fork (August 2021) implemented EIP-1559 along with several other EIPs. Not every EIP requires a hard fork — ERC standards, for instance, are implemented at the application layer and don’t require any changes to the Ethereum protocol itself.
What happens if an EIP is controversial?
Controversial EIPs can stall in the review process for a long time, or be withdrawn entirely. In extreme cases, a contentious hard fork can cause a chain split — as happened in 2016 when the Ethereum community disagreed over how to respond to the DAO hack, resulting in the creation of Ethereum Classic. The EIP process is designed to surface disagreements early and resolve them through discussion rather than conflict.
Where can I find all active EIPs?
The complete list of all EIPs — including their status, type, and full text — is available at eips.ethereum.org. You can filter by type (Core, ERC, Meta, etc.) and by status (Draft, Review, Final, etc.). The GitHub repository at github.com/ethereum/EIPs is the primary source of truth and where all submissions and discussions are tracked.
References
- EIP-1: EIP Purpose and Guidelines
- Ethereum Improvement Proposals — Official Repository
- Cyfrin — Introduction to Ethereum Improvement Proposals
- Coinbase — What is an Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP)?
- Consensys — Ethereum Evolved: Dencun Upgrade Part 5, EIP-4844
- Fidelity Digital Assets — Ethereum Improvement Proposals: 5 Insights for Institutional Investors
- The Block — What is an Ethereum Improvement Proposal
- Ethereum Magicians Forum
