Ethereum Foundation launches Clear Signing standard

On May 12 the Ethereum Foundation launched Clear Signing, an open ERC-7730 standard that converts raw transaction data into plain-language descriptions wallets can show before users approve transactions.

Clear Signing stores human-readable descriptors in a decentralized, off-chain registry and distributes them to wallet software. A companion standard, ERC-8176, enables independent auditors to verify and cryptographically attest that a descriptor accurately represents the underlying transaction. Wallets can be configured to trust descriptor sources that carry strong audit attestations and reputations.

Because descriptors live off-chain, existing smart contracts do not need to be rewritten to adopt the system. The Foundation stated the design aims to preserve privacy and reduce friction for developers. Rust and TypeScript libraries funded by the Foundation’s One Trillion Dollar Security Initiative are available on clearsigning.org to help wallet and dApp teams integrate the standard.

Ledger originated the ERC-7730 work. The working group now includes MetaMask, Trezor, Fireblocks, WalletConnect, Cyfrin, Sourcify and Zama, alongside independent contributors. The Foundation invited wallet vendors, custodians and decentralized application developers to converge on shared descriptor sources and audit practices.

The Foundation framed the release around the problem of blind signing, where the final approval step presents low-level data that many users cannot read. It pointed to recent incidents, including a Bybit-related exploit, in which signed transactions emptied wallets and produced large user losses.

Wallet providers will decide which descriptor sources to display based on audit attestations and reputation. Custodians and institutional users can rely on verifiable, audited explanations before signing while contributors expand wallet compatibility and audit tooling.

The release arrives as institutional activity on Ethereum grows and demand increases for clear, auditable transaction approvals tied to tokenized products and custody services.

On its official account, the Foundation posted: “Clear signing is now live. An open standard to end blind signing, making human-readable transactions default.” Contributors report the project remains active, with ongoing work to increase adoption across decentralized applications.

The next phase will test whether issuers, custodians and wallet developers adopt consistent descriptor sources and whether audit attestations and reputations lead wallets to present audited descriptions as the default approval prompt.