Delegate.cash vs. Native Smart Account Sessions

Non-custodial delegation registry: Acts as a global, shared registry for delegating authority across any EVM wallet. This matters for multi-wallet management and gasless interactions where you don't want to move assets.

Single integration, universal coverage: One integration lets your dApp support delegation for OpenSea, Blur, Zora, and hundreds of other protocols instantly. This matters for NFT marketplaces and social apps needing immediate, wide compatibility.

Fine-grained session keys: Define specific permissions (e.g., 'Spend up to 0.1 ETH on Uniswap V3') within a single dApp session. This matters for DeFi power users and gaming requiring precise, revocable authority without broad wallet access.

Built on ERC-4337 / account abstraction: Enables batched transactions, sponsored gas, and recovery directly within the smart account. This matters for building novel UX like subscription payments or complex transaction flows native to your app.

Single registry for all EVM chains: A delegation registered on Ethereum Mainnet is valid across Polygon, Arbitrum, and 10+ other chains. This matters for cross-chain dApps like NFT marketplaces (Blur, OpenSea) and gaming ecosystems, enabling seamless user experiences without per-chain setup.

Fine-grained permissions per dApp: Set specific allowances (e.g., max spend, token contracts, time limits) directly in the smart account (like Safe{Wallet} or Biconomy). This matters for DeFi power users engaging with complex protocols (Aave, Uniswap) who need precise, revocable session keys for security.

Broad 'all-or-nothing' delegation: Delegates get full control over specific token classes (e.g., all NFTs in a collection) from a vault. This is a trade-off for security—unsuitable for scenarios requiring limited spend allowances or contract-specific permissions, increasing risk if a delegate key is compromised.

Sessions are not portable: Permissions set on Polygon don't apply on Arbitrum. This matters for cross-chain applications, as users must create and manage separate sessions on each network, leading to a fragmented experience and increased setup friction.

Non-custodial registry: Acts as a separate, universal registry for delegation, independent of the underlying wallet. This matters for composability, allowing a single delegation to work across multiple smart account implementations (like Safe, Biconomy) and even EOAs.

Single transaction for multiple collections: A user can delegate access to an entire vault (e.g., 50 NFTs) in one on-chain transaction. This matters for NFT power users and DAOs managing large portfolios, as it drastically reduces setup costs versus per-contract approvals.

Session keys integrated into the account logic: Permissions (scope, expiry, spend limits) are enforced by the smart account itself via standards like ERC-7377 or ERC-6900. This matters for granular security, enabling time-bound, contract-specific allowances without relying on an external system.

Permission grants are part of the user flow: Sessions can be proposed and approved within a single meta-transaction or bundled user operation. This matters for dApp onboarding, removing the pre-approval step and creating a seamless 'sign once, use freely' experience for a defined period.

Adds a system dependency: DApps must integrate the Delegate.cash registry and often rely on a relayer to sponsor gas for delegated transactions. This matters for protocol risk, as you now depend on the security and liveness of an additional external protocol.

Lack of universal standard: While ERC-7377 is emerging, support varies across smart account providers (Safe, ZeroDev, Rhinestone). This matters for developer overhead, as you may need custom integrations for different wallet vendors, fracturing the user base.