diff --git a/internal/ethapi/api.go b/internal/ethapi/api.go
index 6452fcf37c..22a59aab58 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/api.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/api.go
@@ -328,11 +328,21 @@ func (api *BlockChainAPI) BlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64 {
 	return hexutil.Uint64(header.Number.Uint64())
 }
 
+// blockNrOrHashOrLatest resolves an optional block selector, defaulting to the
+// latest block when the parameter was omitted by the caller (nil).
+func blockNrOrHashOrLatest(blockNrOrHash *rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) rpc.BlockNumberOrHash {
+	if blockNrOrHash != nil {
+		return *blockNrOrHash
+	}
+	return rpc.BlockNumberOrHashWithNumber(rpc.LatestBlockNumber)
+}
+
 // GetBalance returns the amount of wei for the given address in the state of the
 // given block number. The rpc.LatestBlockNumber and rpc.PendingBlockNumber meta
-// block numbers are also allowed.
-func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetBalance(ctx context.Context, address common.Address, blockNrOrHash rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) (*hexutil.Big, error) {
-	state, _, err := api.b.StateAndHeaderByNumberOrHash(ctx, blockNrOrHash)
+// block numbers are also allowed. When the block parameter is omitted, it
+// defaults to the latest block.
+func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetBalance(ctx context.Context, address common.Address, blockNrOrHash *rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) (*hexutil.Big, error) {
+	state, _, err := api.b.StateAndHeaderByNumberOrHash(ctx, blockNrOrHashOrLatest(blockNrOrHash))
 	if state == nil || err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -371,7 +381,8 @@ func (n *proofList) Delete(key []byte) error {
 }
 
 // GetProof returns the Merkle-proof for a given account and optionally some storage keys.
-func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetProof(ctx context.Context, address common.Address, storageKeys []string, blockNrOrHash rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) (*AccountResult, error) {
+// When the block parameter is omitted, it defaults to the latest block.
+func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetProof(ctx context.Context, address common.Address, storageKeys []string, blockNrOrHash *rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) (*AccountResult, error) {
 	if len(storageKeys) > maxGetProofKeys {
 		return nil, &invalidParamsError{fmt.Sprintf("too many storage keys requested (max %d, got %d)", maxGetProofKeys, len(storageKeys))}
 	}
@@ -388,7 +399,7 @@ func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetProof(ctx context.Context, address common.Address,
 			return nil, &invalidParamsError{fmt.Sprintf("%v: %q", err, hexKey)}
 		}
 	}
-	statedb, header, err := api.b.StateAndHeaderByNumberOrHash(ctx, blockNrOrHash)
+	statedb, header, err := api.b.StateAndHeaderByNumberOrHash(ctx, blockNrOrHashOrLatest(blockNrOrHash))
 	if statedb == nil || err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -584,8 +595,9 @@ func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetUncleCountByBlockHash(ctx context.Context, blockHas
 }
 
 // GetCode returns the code stored at the given address in the state for the given block number.
-func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetCode(ctx context.Context, address common.Address, blockNrOrHash rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) (hexutil.Bytes, error) {
-	state, _, err := api.b.StateAndHeaderByNumberOrHash(ctx, blockNrOrHash)
+// When the block parameter is omitted, it defaults to the latest block.
+func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetCode(ctx context.Context, address common.Address, blockNrOrHash *rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) (hexutil.Bytes, error) {
+	state, _, err := api.b.StateAndHeaderByNumberOrHash(ctx, blockNrOrHashOrLatest(blockNrOrHash))
 	if state == nil || err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -595,9 +607,10 @@ func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetCode(ctx context.Context, address common.Address, b
 
 // GetStorageAt returns the storage from the state at the given address, key and
 // block number. The rpc.LatestBlockNumber and rpc.PendingBlockNumber meta block
-// numbers are also allowed.
-func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetStorageAt(ctx context.Context, address common.Address, hexKey string, blockNrOrHash rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) (hexutil.Bytes, error) {
-	state, _, err := api.b.StateAndHeaderByNumberOrHash(ctx, blockNrOrHash)
+// numbers are also allowed. When the block parameter is omitted, it defaults to
+// the latest block.
+func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetStorageAt(ctx context.Context, address common.Address, hexKey string, blockNrOrHash *rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) (hexutil.Bytes, error) {
+	state, _, err := api.b.StateAndHeaderByNumberOrHash(ctx, blockNrOrHashOrLatest(blockNrOrHash))
 	if state == nil || err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -610,8 +623,9 @@ func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetStorageAt(ctx context.Context, address common.Addre
 }
 
 // GetStorageValues returns multiple storage slot values for multiple accounts
-// at the given block.
-func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetStorageValues(ctx context.Context, requests map[common.Address][]common.Hash, blockNrOrHash rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) (map[common.Address][]hexutil.Bytes, error) {
+// at the given block. When the block parameter is omitted, it defaults to the
+// latest block.
+func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetStorageValues(ctx context.Context, requests map[common.Address][]common.Hash, blockNrOrHash *rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) (map[common.Address][]hexutil.Bytes, error) {
 	// Count total slots requested.
 	var totalSlots int
 	for _, keys := range requests {
@@ -624,7 +638,7 @@ func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetStorageValues(ctx context.Context, requests map[com
 		return nil, &invalidParamsError{message: "empty request"}
 	}
 
-	state, _, err := api.b.StateAndHeaderByNumberOrHash(ctx, blockNrOrHash)
+	state, _, err := api.b.StateAndHeaderByNumberOrHash(ctx, blockNrOrHashOrLatest(blockNrOrHash))
 	if state == nil || err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -1483,10 +1497,12 @@ func (api *TransactionAPI) GetRawTransactionByBlockHashAndIndex(ctx context.Cont
 	return nil
 }
 
-// GetTransactionCount returns the number of transactions the given address has sent for the given block number
-func (api *TransactionAPI) GetTransactionCount(ctx context.Context, address common.Address, blockNrOrHash rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) (*hexutil.Uint64, error) {
+// GetTransactionCount returns the number of transactions the given address has sent for the given block number.
+// When the block parameter is omitted, it defaults to the latest block.
+func (api *TransactionAPI) GetTransactionCount(ctx context.Context, address common.Address, blockNrOrHash *rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) (*hexutil.Uint64, error) {
+	bnh := blockNrOrHashOrLatest(blockNrOrHash)
 	// Ask transaction pool for the nonce which includes pending transactions
-	if blockNr, ok := blockNrOrHash.Number(); ok && blockNr == rpc.PendingBlockNumber {
+	if blockNr, ok := bnh.Number(); ok && blockNr == rpc.PendingBlockNumber {
 		nonce, err := api.b.GetPoolNonce(ctx, address)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
@@ -1494,7 +1510,7 @@ func (api *TransactionAPI) GetTransactionCount(ctx context.Context, address comm
 		return (*hexutil.Uint64)(&nonce), nil
 	}
 	// Resolve block number and use its state to ask for the nonce
-	state, _, err := api.b.StateAndHeaderByNumberOrHash(ctx, blockNrOrHash)
+	state, _, err := api.b.StateAndHeaderByNumberOrHash(ctx, bnh)
 	if state == nil || err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/ethapi/api_test.go b/internal/ethapi/api_test.go
index 3b72742e95..80a9036ecc 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/api_test.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/api_test.go
@@ -4216,7 +4216,7 @@ func TestGetStorageValues(t *testing.T) {
 	result, err := api.GetStorageValues(context.Background(), map[common.Address][]common.Hash{
 		addr1: {slot0, slot1},
 		addr2: {slot2},
-	}, latest)
+	}, &latest)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -4236,7 +4236,7 @@ func TestGetStorageValues(t *testing.T) {
 	// Missing slot returns zero.
 	result, err = api.GetStorageValues(context.Background(), map[common.Address][]common.Hash{
 		addr1: {common.HexToHash("0xff")},
-	}, latest)
+	}, &latest)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -4245,7 +4245,7 @@ func TestGetStorageValues(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Empty request returns error.
-	_, err = api.GetStorageValues(context.Background(), map[common.Address][]common.Hash{}, latest)
+	_, err = api.GetStorageValues(context.Background(), map[common.Address][]common.Hash{}, &latest)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected error for empty request")
 	}
@@ -4257,8 +4257,85 @@ func TestGetStorageValues(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	_, err = api.GetStorageValues(context.Background(), map[common.Address][]common.Hash{
 		addr1: tooMany,
-	}, latest)
+	}, &latest)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected error for exceeding slot limit")
 	}
 }
+
+// TestStateMethodsDefaultToLatest verifies that the state-reading methods
+// default the optional block parameter to "latest".
+func TestStateMethodsDefaultToLatest(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	var (
+		accounts = newAccounts(2)
+		slot     = common.HexToHash("0x01")
+		val      = common.HexToHash("0x42")
+		code     = []byte{0x60, 0x00, 0x60, 0x00}
+		genesis  = &core.Genesis{
+			Config: params.MergedTestChainConfig,
+			Alloc: types.GenesisAlloc{
+				accounts[0].addr: {Balance: big.NewInt(params.Ether)},
+				accounts[1].addr: {
+					Balance: big.NewInt(2 * params.Ether),
+					Nonce:   7,
+					Code:    code,
+					Storage: map[common.Hash]common.Hash{slot: val},
+				},
+			},
+		}
+		acc = accounts[1].addr
+		ctx = context.Background()
+	)
+	backend := newTestBackend(t, 1, genesis, beacon.New(ethash.NewFaker()), func(i int, b *core.BlockGen) {
+		b.SetPoS()
+	})
+	srv := rpc.NewServer()
+	if err := srv.RegisterName("eth", NewBlockChainAPI(backend)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := srv.RegisterName("eth", NewTransactionAPI(backend, new(AddrLocker))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	client := rpc.DialInProc(srv)
+	defer client.Close()
+
+	// call invokes method twice: once omitting the block param and once passing
+	// "latest" explicitly. Both must succeed and return identical results.
+	call := func(name string, dst func() any, explicit []any, omitted []any) {
+		t.Helper()
+		gotOmitted := dst()
+		if err := client.CallContext(ctx, gotOmitted, name, omitted...); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%s with omitted block: unexpected error: %v", name, err)
+		}
+		gotLatest := dst()
+		if err := client.CallContext(ctx, gotLatest, name, explicit...); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%s with explicit latest: unexpected error: %v", name, err)
+		}
+		o, _ := json.Marshal(gotOmitted)
+		l, _ := json.Marshal(gotLatest)
+		if !bytes.Equal(o, l) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: omitted-block result %s != latest result %s", name, o, l)
+		}
+	}
+
+	call("eth_getBalance",
+		func() any { return new(hexutil.Big) },
+		[]any{acc, "latest"}, []any{acc})
+	call("eth_getCode",
+		func() any { return new(hexutil.Bytes) },
+		[]any{acc, "latest"}, []any{acc})
+	call("eth_getTransactionCount",
+		func() any { return new(hexutil.Uint64) },
+		[]any{acc, "latest"}, []any{acc})
+	call("eth_getStorageAt",
+		func() any { return new(hexutil.Bytes) },
+		[]any{acc, slot, "latest"}, []any{acc, slot})
+	call("eth_getProof",
+		func() any { return new(AccountResult) },
+		[]any{acc, []string{slot.Hex()}, "latest"}, []any{acc, []string{slot.Hex()}})
+	call("eth_getStorageValues",
+		func() any { return new(map[common.Address][]hexutil.Bytes) },
+		[]any{map[common.Address][]common.Hash{acc: {slot}}, "latest"},
+		[]any{map[common.Address][]common.Hash{acc: {slot}}})
+}
diff --git a/internal/web3ext/web3ext.go b/internal/web3ext/web3ext.go
index 6a5f3c9a8a..8622109e21 100644
--- a/internal/web3ext/web3ext.go
+++ b/internal/web3ext/web3ext.go
@@ -566,13 +566,13 @@ web3._extend({
 			name: 'getProof',
 			call: 'eth_getProof',
 			params: 3,
-			inputFormatter: [web3._extend.formatters.inputAddressFormatter, null, web3._extend.formatters.inputBlockNumberFormatter]
+			inputFormatter: [web3._extend.formatters.inputAddressFormatter, null, web3._extend.formatters.inputDefaultBlockNumberFormatter]
 		}),
 		new web3._extend.Method({
 			name: 'getStorageValues',
 			call: 'eth_getStorageValues',
 			params: 2,
-			inputFormatter: [null, web3._extend.formatters.inputBlockNumberFormatter]
+			inputFormatter: [null, web3._extend.formatters.inputDefaultBlockNumberFormatter]
 		}),
 		new web3._extend.Method({
 			name: 'createAccessList',