May 31, 2025
In a strategic move, WalletConnect Inc. has officially rebranded as Reown — marking a clear separation between its role as a product company and the decentralized protocol it helped create. This shift has implications not only for branding, but also for how users, developers, and investors should understand the evolving roles of Reown and the WalletConnect Network.
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🔄 What Is Reown?
Reown is the new name for the company previously known as WalletConnect Inc. The rebranding signals a broader vision beyond just wallet connections. As per their statement:
> “Reown empowers apps and wallets to bring better UX to millions of users every day.”
Their focus is now squarely on user experience (UX) across the Web3 space — helping dApps and wallets improve onboarding, swapping, transacting, and integrating seamlessly across chains.
It’s not just about connectivity anymore — it’s about owning the user experience.
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🌐 What Happens to the WalletConnect Protocol?
The WalletConnect protocol itself — now known as the WalletConnect Network — remains intact and continues its journey toward full decentralization. This includes:
The WCT token (ERC-20 on Optimism)
The DAO governance model
Staking and node rewards
Long-term roadmap available at walletconnect.network
Importantly, Reown is now just a partner of the protocol, not the owner. This means:
Reown builds products using WalletConnect tech
The Foundation oversees decentralization and token matters
WCT’s utility stays tied to the protocol infrastructure, not the new brand
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📌 Why This Matters for WCT Holders
For WCT holders and observers, this transition has several takeaways:
1. Clearer boundaries: WCT is not tied to a centralized company anymore. It represents governance and utility within a decentralized network.
2. Reown ≠ WCT: Don’t expect WCT to pump just because Reown makes a UX upgrade. Unless those updates touch the WalletConnect Network itself, WCT's role won’t necessarily change.
3. Upside via adoption: If Reown successfully drives massive usage of WalletConnect-based tools, it could increase validator activity, usage fees, or governance relevance — benefiting WCT indirectly.
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🧠 Strategic Interpretation
Reown becoming an independent UX-first company may ultimately de-risk the protocol’s decentralization path. It follows the playbook of other crypto projects like:
Consensys vs Ethereum: Consensys builds products, but Ethereum is public infrastructure.
Parity vs Polkadot: Parity develops tools, but Polkadot is governed by a community DAO.
This is a maturity signal for the ecosystem — but investors must adjust expectations. WCT is not equity in Reown. It’s a governance and utility token for the protocol.
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🧭 What to Watch Next
Any updates from Reown that directly integrate WCT features (e.g. staking-based access, protocol fees)
Roadmap updates from the WalletConnect Foundation
November 2025 unlock event — still a big milestone for token economics