How the connection starts
A dApp says: “Hey, let’s connect!” and shows you a QR code (or a deep link).
Your wallet scans it and secretly builds a shared key with the dApp.
That key becomes the lock-and-key system for everything that follows.
What happens under the hood
The dApp never sees your private key — only your wallet can use that.
Messages travel through a relay server, but they’re encrypted end-to-end.
The relay is just a mailman: it delivers sealed letters but can’t open them.
Everyday uses (what developers actually call)
Send a transaction (eth_sendTransaction).
Sign typed data (eth_signTypedData) for contracts.
Sign a simple message (personal_sign).
Switch networks (wallet_switchEthereumChain).
What developers listen for
Proposal received → dApp wants to connect.
Approval given → wallet says yes.
Request incoming → dApp asks for a signature or action.
Session ended → connection is closed.
Quick dev example (in plain words)
1. Import the @WalletConnect SDK.
2. Initialize a client with your dApp info.
3. Generate a pairing link and show it as a QR code.
4. Wait for the wallet to approve.
5. Boom — you’re connected, and now you can request signatures securely.
WCT Token — Tokenomics & Airdrop (Humanized)
Now let’s talk about the WCT token, which powers the WalletConnect Network.
Big picture
Supply: There will only ever be 1 billion WCT.
Chains: It started on Optimism but later expanded to Solana (with cross-chain tech making it portable).
Why it exists: To give the community ownership of the network that connects wallets and dApps.
Distribution
Community airdrops: If you’ve used WalletConnect a lot, built with it, or contributed, chances are you were eligible. The first airdrop happened in late 2024 (Optimism). Another followed in 2025 (Solana).
Staking: Holders can lock WCT and earn rewards — staking also gives you governance power.
Governance: Instead of decisions being made behind closed doors, WCT lets the community vote on proposals, like how relays should run or how treasury funds should be used.
Ecosystem growth: A portion of tokens is set aside to fund builders and projects that strengthen WalletConnect’s role as the universal Web3 connector.
Why it matters (bringing it back to people)
WalletConnect has become the bridge everyone uses but no one thinks about. Every time you scan a QR to connect your wallet to a dApp — that’s WalletConnect doing its job.
The new $WCT layer means it’s no longer just infrastructure controlled by a few devs — now the community has a stake. If this works, WalletConnect could become not just the standard for connecting wallets, but a decentralized, community-owned internet rail for all of Web3.
This way the technical people get their cheat-sheet,
the traders and holders get their tokenomics summary, and the everyday user understands why WalletConnect matters for them personally.