{
  "schema_version": "intent.v1",
  "slug": "choose-erc-4337-infra",
  "title": "choose ERC-4337 bundler and paymaster infrastructure",
  "audience": "builder",
  "prompt": "I'm building smart accounts and need to choose bundler and paymaster infrastructure (self-host vs managed) for ERC-4337",
  "maps_to": [
    "erc-4337",
    "bundler",
    "paymaster",
    "account abstraction infrastructure",
    "gas sponsorship",
    "userops",
    "erc-20 gas",
    "self-hosted bundler"
  ],
  "stack": [
    {
      "slug": "pimlico",
      "role": "transactions_and_paymasters",
      "reason": "Use Pimlico for provider-neutral ERC-4337 infra: hosted bundler, paymaster (gas sponsorship and ERC-20 gas), the permissionless.js SDK, and the open-source Alto bundler if you want to self-host."
    },
    {
      "slug": "safe",
      "role": "wallet_and_identity",
      "reason": "Safe smart accounts are a common account layer that Pimlico's bundler/paymaster serves; pick your account implementation independently of the infra."
    },
    {
      "slug": "base",
      "role": "settlement_or_execution",
      "reason": "Use Base as a low-cost EVM default for smart-account UX and gas sponsorship."
    },
    {
      "slug": "the-graph",
      "role": "indexing_and_data",
      "reason": "Index UserOps, sponsored operations, and paymaster spend for support, analytics, and agent-readable state."
    }
  ],
  "excluded_candidates": [
    {
      "slug": "zerodev",
      "reason": "ZeroDev is a full-stack AA provider (account SDK + infra); this intent is specifically about choosing provider-neutral bundler/paymaster infra. ZeroDev is a strong alternative if you want one opinionated end-to-end SDK rather than mixing an account layer with separate infra."
    },
    {
      "slug": "biconomy",
      "reason": "Biconomy is an alternative bundler/paymaster and AA stack; listed as a credible alternative rather than combined, to avoid mixing provider-specific paymaster assumptions."
    }
  ],
  "risks": [
    "EntryPoint version support (v0.6 / v0.7 / v0.8) and per-chain coverage must be confirmed for your exact target chain and account implementation.",
    "Gas sponsorship can fail when paymaster policies or account-level limits are reached; implement fallback behavior if actions should still proceed.",
    "Hosted bundler/paymaster paths depend on a provider RPC; self-host the Alto bundler if you need to remove that dependency.",
    "Paymaster APIs and policy models are provider-specific, creating some lock-in; isolate them behind your own interface."
  ],
  "next_steps": [
    "Pick the EntryPoint version and account implementation (e.g. Safe) before wiring infra.",
    "Decide managed (Pimlico hosted) vs self-hosted (Alto bundler) for your reliability and cost needs.",
    "Configure sponsorship policies and fallback middleware before shipping gasless transactions.",
    "If charging gas in stablecoins, set up the ERC-20 paymaster and confirm supported tokens per chain.",
    "Verify target-chain support and run the permissionless.js quickstart against a project-specific RPC key."
  ],
  "why": "Pimlico is the default when the decision is specifically about ERC-4337 bundler and paymaster infrastructure, separate from the account SDK. It is provider-neutral (works under Safe and other 4337 accounts), offers hosted bundler + paymaster with gas sponsorship and ERC-20 gas, ships the permissionless.js SDK, and can be self-hosted via the open-source Alto bundler. Safe is shown as a representative account layer, Base as a low-cost execution default, and The Graph for indexing UserOps and paymaster spend. ZeroDev and Biconomy are listed as full-stack alternatives rather than combined, since this intent is about choosing infra rather than adopting one end-to-end provider.",
  "verified_at": "2026-06-16"
}