👋 Hi, I’m Nic Lin — a protocol researcher and smart contract engineer focused on L2s, MEV, and secure protocol design. I’ve worked on core infrastructure in the Ethereum ecosystem, including account abstraction, rollups, and MEV-aware DEXs. I publish research-backed insights, contribute to open-source tooling, and speak at global Ethereum conferences. Currently exploring new frontiers in universal account, L1/L2 interoperability and censorship resistance.
Led integration of Order Flow Auctions across multiple chains, increasing MEV protection for DEX users and generating new revenue streams
Researched and implemented MEV prevention and mitigation strategies
Conducted security evaluations of rollups like OP Stack, Arbitrum, StarkNet, and ZKsync; identified safety gaps in force inclusion mechanisms
Protocol Researcher (Independent / Grants) Ethereum Support Program & Independent Projects | 2020 – Present
Built a Force Inclusion SDK to help users bypass censorship on L2s; delivered grant-supported research and implementation for the Ethereum ecosystem
Developed an anonymous reputation system using zero-knowledge proofs to support Sybil-resistant identities
Published 30+ technical articles explaining complex Ethereum mechanics, from ERC-4337 to bridging and MEV
Presented research and engineering talks at events including Devcon, ETHTaipei, COSCUP, and various community meetups
Blockchain Engineer Ethereum Foundation | Jul. 2017 – Jan. 2020
Contributed to early Eth 2.0 designs and specifications
Implemented the concept of ERC-2938 (Native Account Abstraction) through prototyping and technical exploration, contributing to its feasibility and design refinement
Participated in protocol discussions and community R&D efforts
Featured Writings
I enjoy writing and sharing technical details of new designs and ideas in the Ethereum ecosystem. You can check out the full list on Medium.
Series on MEV, MEV protection and MEV-aware design: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Featured Talks
“Validation Centric Design: agile and safe development for devs, an interchangeable AA wallet for users”, ETHTaipei 2025 Presented our novel design of the imToken Account Abstraction (AA) wallet, emphasizing its validation-centric architecture that ensures both developer agility and user security. (Slide & Recording)
“Supercharging EOA with EIP-7702“, imToken Internalsharing 2024 Led an in-depth session on EIP-7702, detailing its potential to enhance Externally Owned Accounts (EOAs) and the specific benefits it offers to imToken users. (Slide)
“What is OFA and why should you care”, ETHTaipei 2024 Introduced the concept of Order Flow Auctions (OFA) to wallet and DApp developers, explaining its mechanisms and the advantages it brings to both users and developers. (Slide & Recording)
“ERC-4337 Account Abstraction workshops”, DappLearningOnlineWorkshop 2023 Conducted a comprehensive workshop on the ERC-4337 workflow, highlighting common pitfalls and providing detailed examples of building an ERC-4337 account. (Slide & Recording)
Projects
Force Inclusion SDK Ethereum Support Program Grant | 2024
Developed a Force Inclusion SDK to help wallets implement censorship resistance on rollups like Optimism and Arbitrum
Built a frontend interface allowing users to force-include their transactions if censored
Delivered comprehensive research on how various L2s implement force inclusion mechanisms and their edge cases
Published implementation guides and SDK docs to support adoption by wallet developers