TLDR
- Ethereum developers have locked EIP-8141 (Frame Transactions) into the Hegotá upgrade, planned for 2027
- Users will be able to pay gas fees without holding ETH, using stablecoins instead
- A third-party sponsor can cover gas costs in ETH and receive stablecoins from the user in return
- Frame Transactions also allow token approvals and swaps to be bundled, so failed trades auto-cancel permissions
- The feature supports Ethereum’s post-quantum security roadmap, targeting a quantum-resistant Layer 1 by December 2029
Ethereum developers have officially locked a new feature called Frame Transactions into the Hegotá network upgrade, scheduled for 2027. The feature, defined under EIP-8141, would let users transact on Ethereum without needing to hold ETH for gas fees.
⚡️UPGRADE: Ethereum commits to enable users pay gas fees with stablecoins, even without holding ETH.
Under EIP-8141, an app or another wallet could pay the Ethereum gas fee for users and charge them in stablecoins instead.
This means users could send stablecoins even with ZERO… pic.twitter.com/YNi6J4gpBo
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) September 7, 2026
Right now, a wallet can hold hundreds of dollars in stablecoins and still be unable to send them. That is because every Ethereum transaction requires a fee paid in ETH. Without ETH in the wallet, the transaction cannot go through.
How Frame Transactions Work
EIP-8141 breaks a transaction into separate steps: one for authorization, one for fee payment, and one for execution. These steps can be handled by different accounts, meaning one wallet can pay the gas while another sends the funds.
A payments app could cover the gas fee itself, or accept stablecoins from the user and settle the ETH fee on their behalf. Ethereum still receives fees in ETH at the protocol level. The user never has to buy any.
Some wallets already offer similar functionality through third-party relayer services. Frame Transactions would bring this capability into Ethereum’s standard transaction flow, removing the need for extra infrastructure.
Bundled Actions and Security Benefits
Frames also allow multiple actions to be grouped together. Today, swapping a token requires two steps: approving an app to spend it, then submitting the trade. If the trade fails, the approval is often left open.
With Frame Transactions, both steps are bundled. If the swap fails, the approval is automatically cancelled. This reduces a common security risk for Ethereum users.
Frames also allow accounts to update their authorization rules without moving funds to a new address. This supports key rotation and the use of new cryptographic signature systems.
Vitalik Buterin is one of the 10 authors listed on EIP-8141. He noted on X that progress on the proposal has been moving quickly over recent months.
Ethereum’s Broader Roadmap
The Hegotá upgrade follows Glamsterdam, which is targeted for December 2026. Client teams may begin Hegotá implementation in late 2026, with the upgrade itself expected in 2027.
Around 60 researchers and engineers reviewed 62 candidate EIPs for Hegotá. Frame Transactions received an S-tier rating, making it a core part of the upgrade rather than an optional addition.
The feature also fits into Ethereum’s longer-term security goals. The Ethereum Foundation is targeting a quantum-resistant Layer 1 by December 2029. Frames support this by allowing accounts to switch to new signature schemes without requiring a separate hard fork or moving funds.
The EIP specification is still in draft form and details may change before the upgrade goes live. Frame Transactions are not available on Ethereum mainnet today.
