Introduction @WalletConnect #WalletConnect $WCT

What began as a lightweight bridge between wallets and decentralized apps (dApps) has matured into one of the most critical infrastructure pieces of Web3. WalletConnect now underpins billions of value transfers, millions of secure connections, and tens of thousands of dApps making it the default access layer for users, developers, and ecosystems.

Where many protocols still wrestle with interoperability, session handling, and user friction, WalletConnect is pushing forward on multiple fronts: upgraded protocols, cross-chain expansion, hardware integrations, governance, and quality standards. Below is how the protocol is evolving and why it matters more than ever.

The Evolution: From v1 to Decentralized Messaging & Multichain Support

v2.0: Decentralized Relays & Session Upgrades

WalletConnect’s major leap came with v2.0, which replaced earlier centralized relays with decentralized messaging via Waku 2.0 over libp2p meaning wallets and apps no longer need to connect to the same server, and messages can be routed peer to peer.

Key improvements in v2.0 include:

Session & pairing separation: Once a wallet and dApp “pair,” they can establish multiple sessions without requiring a fresh QR scan each time.

Chain-agnostic interface & JSON-RPC permissions: Apps now explicitly declare which chains and RPC methods they will use, allowing more robust cross-chain compatibility.

Improved session management: Explicit expiry, better request history, and more predictable client behavior.

These protocol changes shift WalletConnect from being a passive “connector” to a dynamic communication fabric for Web3 capable of supporting notifications, messaging, and multi-chain operations.

Infrastructure & Metrics: Scaling in Usage & Reach

  • WalletConnect now claims:

  • Over 70,000 integrated dApps

  • More than 700 wallets supported

Tens of millions of active wallets and 300+ million connections processed cumulatively

In its “Ecosystem Update,” WalletConnect announced 309 million total connections and 47.5 million unique wallets as of May 2025, reflecting continued growth in both scale and depth.

Deepening Integration: Hardware, Cross-Chain & Quality Assurance

Hardware Wallets: Trezor Integration

One of the most eagerly anticipated upgrades is integration with hardware wallets. In August 2025, WalletConnect became compatible with Trezor, enabling Trezor users to directly interact with dApps without sacrificing the cold-key security model.

This integration means:

  • Onchain access while keeping private keys offline

  • No need for browser extensions or insecure intermediaries

  • A unified, safer experience bridging hardware and dApps

It is a powerful signal that WalletConnect sees hardware wallets not as edge cases, but as essential players in its connectivity infrastructure.

Cross-Chain Reach: WCT & Solana Support

WalletConnect has introduced its native token, WCT, as part of its decentralization and incentive strategy.

In May 2025, WCT expanded to Solana using Wormhole’s NTT (Native Token Transfer) standard, with a 5 million WCT claim campaign for active Solana users.

The protocol’s ambition is clear: break free from Ethereum-centric constraints and become truly multi-chain. With WCT staking, cross-chain incentives, and integration into diverse ecosystems, WalletConnect is aligning its connectivity vision with broader Web3 growth.

Partnerships with chains such as Peaq also reinforce this strategy: Peaq’s integration with WalletConnect simplifies wallet connectivity for its Machine Economy ecosystem.

Certification & User Experience Standards

To improve reliability and trust in the client side, WalletConnect runs a “WalletConnect Certified” program. It sets standards for UX, integration quality, security, and performance.

Recent additions in Round 2 include wallets such as Fireblocks, CTRL, Blockchain.com, BitPay, Rakuten, and others.

Certification requires:

  • Top usage rankings

  • Support across multiple chains

  • Seamless “link mode” connections (instant mobile pairing)

  • One-click authentication flows

By raising the bar for wallet integration, WalletConnect ensures that both users and developers have a dependable standard to trust.

Vision & Roadmap: Messaging, Governance & Native Tokenization

On-Chain Governance & WCT Activation

WalletConnect plans to activate onchain governance via WCT by Q2 2025, allowing token holders to vote on upgrades, network changes, and permissioning.

This is vital: centralized coordination can only scale so far before community control becomes necessary.

Messaging, Notifications & Chat APIs

Beyond basic transaction signing, WalletConnect’s roadmap includes:

  • Notify API: Push notifications for offchain and onchain events.

  • Chat / messaging API: Enabling wallets and dApps to exchange messages, alerts, or even governance communications.

  • Cloud Registry & identity layers: To coordinate discovery, address resolution, and meta connections.

These enhancements move WalletConnect closer to a full onchain UX stack not just connectivity, but stateful, cross-chain interaction.

Why WalletConnect Matters (More Than Ever)

  • Universal access layer: Instead of each dApp building custom wallet bridges, they can reliably plug into WalletConnect’s protocol.

  • Security by design: End-to-end encryption, session permissions, and hardware wallet compatibility mitigate many risks of wallet-dApp interaction.

  • Future-proofing Web3 UX: As users expect seamless messaging, notifications, account linking, and cross-chain flows, WalletConnect is laying the foundations for that level of sophistication.

  • Economics & sustainability: WCT aligns incentives across node operators, wallet teams, and users, embedding long-term commitment to infrastructure rather than one-time adoption.

Challenges & Risks Ahead

  • Decentralization vs coordination: Building a truly decentralized node and relay network while ensuring reliability is hard.

  • Token volatility or utility mismatch: WCT must demonstrate real demand and governance utility, not just speculative hype.

  • Cross-chain complexity: Each chain has unique quirks, RPC standards, account formats supporting them robustly is nontrivial.

  • Security pressure: As a widespread protocol, any vulnerability in WalletConnect infrastructure or libraries would have broad impact.

Final Thought

WalletConnect has transformed from a simple QR-wallet connector into the de facto onchain access fabric of Web3. Through protocol upgrades, cross-chain expansion, hardware wallet integrations, and community governance, it’s positioning itself not just as infrastructure — but as the standard connectivity layer for decentralized experiences.

As we move toward a world where users expect Web3 apps to feel as seamless as their mobile apps, protocols like WalletConnect will decide which architectures survive. Its momentum, adoption, and roadmap make it a strong contender to become the default plumbing behind every wallet, dApp, and ecosystem.