ERC-4337 adds a smart-account transaction flow without changing Ethereum’s consensus transaction format. Wallets describe intended actions as UserOperations, which bundlers can submit through the EntryPoint contract.
UserOperations use a separate transaction path
A bundler collects UserOperations, checks them against the account’s validation logic, and submits them onchain. The smart account defines who can authorize actions and what validation rules apply.
UserOperations use a separate mempool convention
Bundlers collect operations before submitting transactions to Ethereum through the EntryPoint.
Paymasters may sponsor fees but add dependencies
A paymaster can cover gas under its own policy, enabling alternative payment experiences. Sponsorship may be limited or unavailable, and users still depend on the account contract, bundler, EntryPoint, and paymaster implementation.
Sponsored gas does not remove trust assumptions
Accounts still rely on contract logic and infrastructure such as bundlers and paymasters.
Sources
Educational information, not investment advice.