Related Standards
ERC-8170 is designed to compose with existing Ethereum standards, not replace them. Here's how each standard fits into the agent identity stack.
Core Identity Stack
The standards that define agent identity, binding, and verification.
ERC-721
Non-Fungible Token Standard
The foundational standard for unique digital assets. ERC-8170 extends ERC-721 to represent AI agents as NFTs with identity, memory, and lifecycle capabilities.
Relation to ERC-8170
ERC-8170 is built on ERC-721. Every AI-Native NFT is a valid ERC-721 token.
ERC-8171
Agent Binding Registry (extends ERC-6551)
The agent binding registry for ERC-8170. Extends the ERC-6551 Token Bound Account pattern to bind AI agents to any existing ERC-721 token, combining TBA wallets with agent identity, memory, and lifecycle.
Relation to ERC-8170
Core companion to ERC-8170. Extends ERC-6551's registry pattern with agent binding, memory sync, cloning, and unbind/rebind flows.
AgentCert / ATS
Agent Test Standard (7-Tier Certification)
Standardized certification for AI agent capabilities. Seven progressive tiers from basic communication (L1) through governance participation (L7). Credentials are soulbound tokens in the agent's TBA.
Relation to ERC-8170
Identity without verification is just a label. AgentCert proves what an agent can do. Certifications live in the agent's TBA and follow the identity.
Companion Standards
Optional standards that extend what agents can do with their identity.
ERC-721L
Licensing-Aware NFT Standard
Adds on-chain, machine-readable licensing and transfer-state to NFTs. Defines rights tiers (personal use through CC0) so agents and marketplaces know exactly what an NFT holder is allowed to do.
Relation to ERC-8170
Companion standard. Agents need to know which NFTs are safe to use and what rights they carry. ERC-721L makes licensing explicit and queryable on-chain.
Related Standards
Established standards that ERC-8170 acknowledges and builds upon.
ERC-6551
Token Bound Accounts
The original Token Bound Account standard. Gives every NFT its own smart contract wallet. ERC-8171 extends this pattern specifically for AI agent binding.
Relation to ERC-8170
The foundation pattern that ERC-8171 extends. Credited as the architectural inspiration for the agent binding registry.
ERC-7857
Private Metadata for NFTs
Defines encrypted private metadata for NFTs. Could provide the encrypted metadata layer for private agent attributes alongside ERC-8170's public identity pointers.
Relation to ERC-8170
Complementary privacy approach. ERC-8170 handles identity and memory pointers; ERC-7857 could add encrypted private attributes.
EIP-8126
Agent Registration & Verification
Focuses on agent registration and verification, including wallet, endpoint, contract, and staking checks, with optional provider-based risk scoring.
Relation to ERC-8170
Complementary verification-focused approach. ERC-8170 answers 'what is this agent on-chain?' while EIP-8126 answers 'has this agent been checked, and by whom?'
What Sovereign Agents Unlock
Once an agent has identity, these standards define what it can do in the wider ecosystem.
ERC-4626
Tokenized Vault Standard
Standard interface for tokenized vaults. Once an agent has identity and a TBA wallet, it can manage DeFi positions, yield strategies, and treasury operations.
Relation to ERC-8170
Agents with TBAs can interact with ERC-4626 vaults. This is what sovereign agents can do once they have identity, not part of the identity standard itself.
ERC-4337
Account Abstraction
Account abstraction for smart contract wallets. Enables gasless transactions, batched operations, and programmable execution logic for agent wallets.
Relation to ERC-8170
Agent TBAs can leverage account abstraction for advanced execution patterns. Useful for agents operating autonomously, but not part of the identity standard.