Predeployed Contracts

Understanding predeployed contracts - what they are, why they're used, and how they differ from precompiles

What Are Predeployed Contracts?

Predeployed contracts (also called preinstalls) are regular EVM smart contracts with their bytecode deployed at predetermined addresses, either at chain genesis or through governance mechanisms. Unlike precompiles which are native Go implementations built into the chain binary, predeployed contracts:

• Contain actual EVM bytecode that can be executed by the EVM

• Consume gas like any regular smart contract

• Can be verified on block explorers

• Are immutable once deployed (no upgrades possible)

Why Use Predeployed Contracts?

Predeployed contracts represent a fundamental pattern in EVM-based chains that provides several key advantages:

Standardization

By deploying essential contracts at known addresses, chains ensure compatibility with existing Ethereum tooling and libraries that expect these contracts at specific locations.

Developer Experience

Developers don't need to deploy their own versions of common utilities, saving deployment costs and reducing complexity.

Cross-chain Consistency

Using the same addresses across different chains enables easier multi-chain development and deployment strategies.

Ecosystem Alignment

Many tools, wallets, and dApps in the Ethereum ecosystem expect certain contracts (like Multicall3) at specific addresses.

Comparison with Precompiles

Understanding the distinction between predeployed contracts and precompiles is crucial for choosing the right approach for your implementation:

Aspect	Predeployed Contracts	Precompiles
Implementation	EVM bytecode stored on-chain	Native Go code in chain binary
Gas Costs	Standard EVM gas pricing	Custom, typically lower gas costs
Deployment	Must be explicitly deployed	Always available when enabled
Upgradeability	Immutable once deployed	Can be modified via chain upgrades
Verification	Verifiable on block explorers	Source not visible on-chain
Address Range	Any valid address	Special range (0x1-0x9FF)
Storage	Uses regular contract storage	Can access native Ontomir state

When to Choose Predeployed Contracts

Use predeployed contracts when:

• You need standard Ethereum contracts at expected addresses

• Full EVM compatibility is required

• Contract source verification is important

• The functionality doesn't require native chain integration

Use precompiles when:

• You need optimized gas costs for frequently used operations

• Direct access to Ontomir SDK state is required

• The functionality requires native chain features

• Upgradeability through chain upgrades is needed

Configuration

Genesis Configuration

Predeployed contracts are configured during chain genesis through the preinstalls parameter. This defines which contracts are deployed at specific addresses during network initialization.

{
  "app_state": {
    "evm": {
      "preinstalls": [
        {
          "address": "0x4e59b44847b379578588920ca78fbf26c0b4956c",
          "bytecode": "0x...",  
          "name": "CREATE2"
        },
        {
          "address": "0xcA11bde05977b3631167028862bE2a173976CA11",
          "bytecode": "0x...",
          "name": "Multicall3"  
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

For complete EVM genesis configuration including precompiles and fee market parameters, see the [Node Configuration](/docs/evm/next/documentation/getting-started/node-configuration#genesis-json) reference.

Common Examples

The Ontomir EVM includes several default predeployed contracts:

• CREATE2 (0x4e59b44847b379578588920ca78fbf26c0b4956c): Deterministic contract deployment

• Multicall3 (0xcA11bde05977b3631167028862bE2a173976CA11): Batch multiple calls in one transaction

• Permit2 (0x000000000022D473030F116dDEE9F6B43aC78BA3): Universal token approval system

• Safe Factory (0x4e1DCf7AD4e460CfD30791CCC4F9c8a4f820ec67): Deploy Safe multisig wallets

• Precompiles - Native chain implementations exposed as smart contracts

• Gas and Fees - Understanding gas consumption for predeployed contracts

• Chain ID - How chain identity affects contract addresses

• Implementation Guide - Technical details for deploying and managing preinstalled contracts