WalletConnect

WalletConnect is an open-source protocol that enables a secure, encrypted connection between a decentralized application (dApp) and a user's cryptocurrency wallet, typically via a QR code scan or deep link. It functions as a bridge, allowing the dApp to request transactions and signatures from the wallet without ever having direct access to the user's private keys, which remain securely stored on the user's device. This mechanism is fundamental for user security and interoperability across the Web3 ecosystem.

The protocol operates using a peer-to-peer relay server that passes encrypted messages between the two endpoints. When a user scans a dApp's QR code with their wallet, it establishes a symmetrically encrypted session using a shared key. All subsequent communication—such as transaction details for signing—is routed through this relay, ensuring that sensitive data like private keys is never exposed. This architecture allows WalletConnect to be wallet-agnostic and chain-agnostic, supporting a wide variety of wallets and blockchain networks.

A key evolution is WalletConnect v2, which introduced a multichain architecture and a universal sign method via CAIP standards, enabling seamless interaction with multiple blockchains in a single session. Unlike its predecessor, v2 uses a decentralized network of relays and supports both one-to-one and one-to-many session structures. This upgrade significantly improves scalability, reliability, and the user experience for complex DeFi and NFT interactions that span several ecosystems.

For developers, integrating WalletConnect provides a standardized way to access a vast user base without building custom wallet connection logic. It is the de facto standard for wallet connectivity in Web3, supported by nearly all major wallets—including MetaMask, Trust Wallet, and Rainbow—and integrated into countless dApps on Ethereum, Solana, Cosmos, and other networks. Its role is analogous to OAuth in Web2, serving as a universal authentication and transaction-signing layer for decentralized applications.

WalletConnect is an open-source protocol that establishes a secure, encrypted communication channel between a decentralized application (dApp) and a cryptocurrency wallet. It functions as a remote procedure call (RPC) bridge, allowing the dApp to send transaction and signature requests to the wallet without direct integration. The connection is initiated by the dApp generating a QR code or a deep link containing a unique session URI, which the user's wallet scans or accepts to establish a peer-to-peer connection. This design ensures the user's private keys never leave their secure wallet environment, maintaining a critical security boundary.

The protocol's core communication layer operates via a relay server, which acts as a message-passing intermediary using the WebSocket protocol. All messages are end-to-end encrypted using symmetric keys negotiated during the initial pairing handshake. This relay-based architecture provides several key benefits: it allows connections between devices on different networks (e.g., a mobile wallet and a desktop dApp), ensures reliable message delivery, and abstracts away complex networking requirements. The relay server is transport-agnostic and cannot decrypt or tamper with the payloads, functioning purely as a message router for the encrypted data packets.

From a security perspective, WalletConnect employs a multi-layered model. The initial pairing uses a Diffie-Hellman key exchange to establish a shared secret for the session's symmetric encryption. Each session is scoped with specific permissions, detailing which blockchain methods the dApp can request. Users must explicitly approve both the connection and every subsequent transaction or signature request within their wallet interface. For enhanced security, WalletConnect v2.0 introduced a decentralized message relay network and support for multiple chains and namespaces within a single session, moving beyond the single-chain limitation of v1.0 and improving scalability and user experience for multi-chain interactions.

WalletConnect is an open-source protocol that enables a secure, encrypted connection between a decentralized application (dApp) and a user's cryptocurrency wallet, typically via a QR code scan or deep link. It functions as a remote procedure call (RPC) bridge, allowing the dApp to request transactions and signatures from a wallet that remains securely in the user's custody, such as on a mobile device or browser extension. This architecture ensures that private keys never leave the user's wallet, separating the frontend interface of the dApp from the secure signing environment.

The protocol's core technical architecture is based on a relay server and a peer-to-peer (P2P) messaging layer. The relay server acts as a message-passing intermediary, using the wss:// WebSocket protocol to facilitate communication between the dApp (the requester) and the wallet (the responder). All messages are end-to-end encrypted using a symmetric key established during the initial pairing handshake. This design means the relay server cannot read or tamper with transaction data, it only routes encrypted payloads, preserving user privacy and security.

A session in WalletConnect is initiated when a dApp generates a URI containing a pairing topic and a bridge URL. The user scans this URI as a QR code with their wallet app, or clicks a deep link, which establishes the encrypted channel. Once paired, the dApp can send JSON-RPC requests—such as eth_sendTransaction or personal_sign—to the wallet for approval. The wallet displays the request details to the user, who can then approve or reject the action, with the signed response being routed back through the relay to the dApp.

WalletConnect supports multiple blockchain networks and a wide array of signature methods, making it a versatile tool for the Web3 ecosystem. Its design is chain-agnostic, allowing integration with Ethereum, Solana, Cosmos, and others through standardized JSON-RPC methods. The protocol has evolved through versions, with WalletConnect v2.0 introducing multi-chain and multi-session support, a decentralized message relay network, and improved permission systems, further enhancing its scalability and user experience for interacting with the decentralized web.