WalletConnect focused on one thing: growth. It achieved massive scale with millions of connections, launched its foundation, and introduced the token, proving users craved a seamless, secure way to link wallets and apps without browser complications.
But 2025 is a new challenge. The focus shifts from “can it grow?” to “can it govern itself?” WalletConnect is moving away from centralized control toward a decentralized model driven by onchain governance, active staking, broader stake distribution via airdrops, and an expanded network of independent node operators to sustain the ecosystem.
The vision is clear: transition from “rely on the company” to “rely on community-voted rules.”
Key Developments to Watch in 2025
Several critical elements will define WalletConnect’s success as a protocol:
Meaningful Governance Proposals: Will token holders have real power to vote on critical decisions, like approving new node operators or enforcing slashing for underperformance?
Fair Fee Distribution: Will fees reward operators based on tangible metrics like uptime and performance, rather than superficial measures like Total Value Locked (TVL)?
Inclusive Decision-Making: Will governance ensure broad participation, preventing whales from dominating, or will power quietly consolidate among a few?
Advanced Staking Mechanisms: Will staking evolve beyond simple token-locking for rewards, incorporating performance-based incentives that reflect operators’ contributions to the network?
The less centralized and manually managed this process is, the stronger the protocol will be as it scales.
Why This Matters for $WCT Holders
If governance empowers holders to set fees, approve upgrades, and shape reward distribution, becomes a powerful tool for steering the network’s future. Holders will move from passive supporters to active decision-makers with a direct stake in the ecosystem’s direction.
However, if key decisions remain offchain or only trivial votes go onchain, holders risk being sidelined—cheering for updates without real influence. This could limit the token’s value to a symbolic collectible rather than a governance asset.
My Perspective
2025 is a defining moment for WalletConnect. Infrastructure tokens gain value only when they enable real control over network decisions and value flow. If staking, fees, and governance are fully onchain, could become a vital coordination mechanism for a decentralized ecosystem. But if governance stays superficial or controlled offchain, the token may struggle to move beyond being a “fan badge” for the WalletConnect community.
The market will eventually distinguish between a token with real utility and one that’s merely decorative. WalletConnect’s ability to deliver on its decentralization roadmap—through robust governance, transparent fee structures, and inclusive participation—will determine whether $WCT emerges as a cornerstone of Web3 infrastructure or fades as a missed opportunity.
