If you’ve been around crypto for even a little while, you’ve used WalletConnect whether you realized it or not. It’s the invisible bridge between your wallet and the apps you love. You scan a QR, click “approve,” and suddenly magic happens: your wallet talks to a dapp, without ever handing over your private keys.


But here’s the secret: that bridge is about to become its own living, breathing economy. And the way we design its governance and value accrual will decide whether WalletConnect becomes just another tool or the backbone of how billions of users connect to web3.


Let’s break it down together.



Why Governance Matters Now


WalletConnect started as a simple protocol. Today, it’s a full network with relayers, staking, and its own token (WCT). Millions of people rely on it every day but control still leans heavily on the core team.


That’s not sustainable. Imagine if one company decided which relayers could operate, or how much fees should cost, or when upgrades should happen. That’s too much power in too few hands.


So here’s the mission:



  • Spread control across the community, operators, and tokenholders.


  • Make fees and rewards fair, transparent, and self-sustaining.


  • Give WCT real utility beyond speculation a way to secure, govern, and grow the network.


This isn’t just governance. It’s survival.



The Heartbeat: Value Accrual


Every great protocol needs an engine. For WalletConnect, that engine is relay usage fees. Each time a wallet connects to a dapp, a tiny fee flows through the system. Multiply that by millions of sessions, and suddenly we have a powerful, recurring revenue stream.


Here’s how value can flow:




  1. Relay Fees → Treasury

    Dapps or wallets pay small fees for reliable connections. The treasury collects them in stablecoins (to avoid volatility).



  2. Operators Stake WCT → Earn Rewards

    Relayers (the backbone servers) must stake WCT. Perform well, earn fees. Go offline, risk losing stake. This keeps the network honest and strong.



  3. Buybacks & Burns → Token Value

    Part of the treasury’s income can buy WCT on the market. Burn it (making supply scarcer) or re-stake it (funding long term rewards). Either way, the token becomes tied to real usage.



  4. Premium Services → Upside

    Enterprises want private relays, analytics, guarantees. Charge them. That revenue strengthens the treasury and, again, flows back to the ecosystem.


The result? WCT is no longer “just a token” it’s the fuel, the shield, and the heartbeat of the entire WalletConnect economy.



Governance: From Centralized to Community


So how do we decide what happens with those fees? With upgrades? With treasury funds?


The answer: phased governance.



  1. Today (Hybrid Mode) Proposals happen on forums and Snapshot (cheap, easy off-chain voting). Core team executes decisions.


  2. Next (On-chain Treasury) Fees flow into a treasury smart contract. Operators register and stake through on-chain contracts. Rewards are calculated transparently.


  3. Then (Delegated Governance) Tokenholders vote directly or delegate to trusted voices. Proposals can trigger treasury actions automatically.


  4. Finally (Full DAO) The network runs itself. Tokenholders govern upgrades, elect operator councils, and manage the treasury. Core team becomes one voice among many.


This roadmap isn’t theory. It’s already being tested. And the thrill comes from knowing that every step shifts WalletConnect closer to being truly unstoppable.



The Human Angle: Why It Matters


Let’s pause the jargon. Why should anyone care about governance and tokenomics?


Because governance is about trust. If a single team controls everything, WalletConnect could be censored, exploited, or shut down. But if thousands of wallets, dapps, and operators share control, the network becomes resilient.


And value accrual is about fairness. WalletConnect has created massive value for the entire industry but until now, almost none of that value flowed back to the people running and using it. With staking, fees, and buybacks, the network rewards its caretakers.


In short: governance keeps us free. Value accrual keeps us motivated. Together, they make WalletConnect sustainable.



The Road Ahead (Thrilling but Realistic)


Here’s how I see the next two years:




  • Phase 1: Fees Begin Flowing (3–6 months)

    Relay fees start trickling into a treasury. Operators stake WCT. The first rewards go out.



    Phase 2: Treasury Goes On-chain (6–12 months)

    Smart contracts handle revenue. Buyback policies kick in. Delegated governance rises.



    Phase 3: Operator Council (12–18 months)

    Relayers are elected, judged by performance, and given a voice. Governance becomes multi-layered.


    Phase 4: Full DAO (18–24 months)

    Proposals, votes, execution all handled by tokenholders. The core team becomes advisors, not rulers.


At that point, WalletConnect stops being a protocol and becomes a public good owned by its community.



Risks & Thrills


No good story comes without risks. WalletConnect must guard against:



  • Relayer centralization (too few big players).


  • Governance capture (whales buying control).


  • Regulatory pressure (making sure WCT isn’t painted as a security).


But the upside? Massive. A self-governing, self-sustaining network that millions already use and billions could, as web3 spreads.



#WalletConnect

@WalletConnect

$WCT