Account abstraction (AA)  is a mechanism that separates the execution of a contract from its storage. In traditional blockchain systems, a contract is stored on the blockchain and is executed by nodes on the network. With account abstraction, the contract is stored off-chain, and only a reference to the contract is stored on the blockchain. This allows for greater flexibility in how contracts are executed and increased security, as the contract is not directly exposed to the network.

The end goal of Ethereum AA is to make using Ethereum as easy and user-friendly as using a traditional bank account. This requires making it harder for users whether experienced or inexperienced to lose their crypto due to lost private keys.

EIP- 4337 also referred to as Account abstraction is an Ethereum improvement proposal for using smart contracts as users’ primary accounts. EIP4337 doesn’t require any change to the blockchain itself. Instead, it creates a system of a higher-level infrastructure. This means that it can be used today and on any EVM-compatible blockchain.

The current average block gas limit on Ethereum is approximately 30million gas per block, which limits the number of transactions that can be processed per block. There are proposals for  increasing this limit which would allow for more transactions to be processed in a shorter amount of time. One of the main arguments for increasing the block gas limit is that it would allow for more decentralized applications (dapps) to be built on Ethereum. Dapps often require a large number of transactions to be processed in order to function properly, and a higher block gas limit would make it possible for more of these transactions to be processed in a shorter amount of time. This would enable more complex and feature-rich dapps to be built, which could drive greater adoption of Ethereum as a platform as it enables the account abstraction process.

One of the main benefits of account abstraction is that it allows for the creation of new types of contracts, such as multi-sig wallets and state channels. Multi-sig wallets require multiple signatures before a transaction can be executed, providing an added layer of security. State channels allow for off-chain transactions to be executed, reducing the overall load on the network and increasing the speed of transactions.

Another benefit of account abstraction is that it allows for the creation of what are known as “smart contract wallets.” These wallets allow for the execution of smart contracts directly from the wallet, without the need for a separate dapp or contract. This makes the process of interacting with decentralized applications much more user-friendly and accessible to a wider audience.

Account abstraction also enables the use of what is known as “contracts as accounts.” This means that contracts can be treated as accounts in their own right, allowing for more complex and powerful smart contracts to be created. For example, a contract could be used to represent a digital asset, such as a token, and be traded on the Ethereum blockchain like any other account.

In summary, Ethereum’s account abstraction feature is a powerful tool that allows for greater flexibility and security in the way that transactions are processed on the network. It enables the creation of new types of contracts and smart contract wallets, making the use of decentralized applications more user-friendly and accessible. Additionally, it enables contracts to be treated as accounts, allowing for more complex and powerful smart contracts to be created on the Ethereum blockchain.

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