As WalletConnect grows beyond a connectivity protocol into an on-chain UX ecosystem, the WCT token and related economic features are central to its next phase. WCT isn’t just a marketable asset; it’s being shaped to incentivize participation (stakers, relayers, builders) and to bootstrap multichain adoption. Understanding how the token and programmatic features work helps explain WalletConnect’s strategy to turn technical ubiquity into sustainable network value.
WCT rollouts and multichain expansion
WalletConnect launched WCT and has been actively expanding its availability. Notably, WCT expanded onto Solana with a community allocation / claim aimed at Solana users — the Foundation announced a ~5 million WCT allocation for active Solana participants as part of the rollout. These targeted multichain launches do two things: they cement WalletConnect’s relevance on those chains, and they put WCT directly into the hands of builders and users who will drive real on-chain utility.
Staking as the network’s behavioral engine
Staking was introduced to align incentives between holders and network security/operations — staking went live in late 2024 and reward distributions followed shortly after. Staking is positioned as a core participation mechanism for token holders to support network functions and earn rewards. On-chain dashboards show meaningful uptake (e.g., over 122 million WCT currently staked on public dashboards at the time of reporting), signaling active engagement from the community. Staking helps decentralize commitments (relayers, service providers) and creates economic ties between token holders and the protocol’s health.
Token utility, governance, and roadmap
Beyond staking, WalletConnect has signaled a roadmap toward on-chain governance (token holders voting on upgrades) and fee-settlement models that could let WCT be used to pay for premium relayer services or prioritized connections. Putting governance on-chain invites the community into product decisions, while usage-based WCT sinks (if implemented carefully) can create sustainable demand that ties utility to token economics rather than pure speculation. These are standard, sensible steps for infrastructure projects moving from grant-funded to token-aligned ecosystems.
Risks and practical considerations
Token launches and incentives have trade-offs. Airdrops and chain expansions create excitement but require strong anti-abuse controls and clear eligibility rules to avoid gaming. Staking inflows can concentrate power if a few large players accumulate outsized stake; conversely, too-low rewards can hinder operator participation. Finally, as WCT flows onto multiple chains, maintaining a coherent economic policy and cross-chain accounting will be operationally complex. These are solvable problems, but they require disciplined governance and clear SLA designs.
Why builders should care
From a practical lens, WCT’s emergence matters for three groups:
1. dApp developers: easier, more reliable wallet UX reduces conversion friction and lowers user support costs.
2. Wallet teams & relayers: staking and token incentives create new monetization and sustainability pathways for offering relayer and session services.
3. Integrators & enterprises: a tokenized governance layer and a mature relayer market can offer contractual SLAs for professional integrations — an important step toward enterprise adoption.
Conclusion
WalletConnect’s move into tokenized incentives and multichain expansion isn’t a vanity project — it’s a pragmatic evolution of a widely used protocol into a sustainable network. WCT, staking mechanics, and targeted airdrops (e.g., Solana allocation) are tools to align incentives across users, builders, and relayers. If WalletConnect continues to pair open protocol development with responsible tokenomics and strong governance, it can convert its massive UX footprint into long-term value for the broader Web3 stack.
