P256 precompile for passkey/WebAuthn transaction authentication

Start with the integration points in crates/ev-precompiles/, crates/ev-revm/, and crates/ev-primitives/, then read ADR-0003 and the RIP-7212 specification. Trace how the 0x76 transaction type is validated and how chainspec EvolveConfig extras are defined. Done means a P256 precompile, activation-height configuration, and 0x76 support for P256 signatures matching the stated input, output, and gas specification.

Summary

Add a P256 (secp256r1) signature verification precompile so that end users can authenticate transactions using device passkeys (FaceID, fingerprint, hardware security keys) via WebAuthn, instead of managing secp256k1 private keys.

Motivation

Private key management is the single biggest UX barrier for consumer-facing blockchain applications. Users lose keys, get phished, and struggle with seed phrases. Modern devices universally support WebAuthn/FIDO2 passkeys backed by the P256 curve (secp256r1), which is different from Ethereum's secp256k1.

Tempo has validated this pattern: their 0x76 transaction type supports passkey-based biometric authentication (FaceID, fingerprint) as a first-class signing method. Since ev-reth already implements the 0x76 transaction type (ADR-0003), adding P256 verification is the natural next step to unlock passkey auth.

Customer impact:

• Users sign transactions with biometrics -- no seed phrases, no browser extensions
• Mobile-first UX becomes possible without smart contract wallets
• Reduces key management liability for enterprise customers
• Compatible with existing WebAuthn infrastructure (Apple, Google, Microsoft passkey providers)

Design

Precompile specification

• Address: Fixed system address (e.g., 0x0100 or a higher address to avoid EIP conflicts)
• Input: (hash: bytes32, r: bytes32, s: bytes32, x: bytes32, y: bytes32) -- the message hash and P256 public key coordinates
• Output: (success: bytes32) -- 1 if signature is valid, 0 otherwise
• Gas cost: ~3,450 gas (per RIP-7212 / EIP-7212 benchmarks)

Integration points

1. crates/ev-precompiles/: Implement P256 verification precompile using a well-audited Rust P256 library (p256 crate from RustCrypto)
2. crates/ev-revm/: Register the precompile in the custom EVM configuration, activated via chainspec height
3. crates/ev-primitives/: Extend EvNodeTransaction (0x76) signature validation to accept P256 signatures as an alternative to secp256k1
4. Chainspec: Add p256_precompile_activation_height to EvolveConfig extras

Transaction flow with passkeys

1. User authenticates with device biometric (FaceID/fingerprint)
2. Device signs the transaction hash using its P256 private key via WebAuthn
3. Transaction includes P256 signature instead of secp256k1
4. EVM handler verifies signature via the P256 precompile
5. tx.origin maps to the user's P256-derived address

Prior art

• RIP-7212: Precompile for secp256r1 -- Rollup improvement proposal, already deployed on Base, Optimism, Arbitrum, Polygon
• EIP-7212 -- L1 proposal (same spec)
• Tempo: passkey authentication
• RustCrypto p256 crate
• ADR-0003 -- ev-reth's 0x76 transaction type