If you’ve ever connected your wallet to a DeFi app using a QR code congratulations: you’ve already been a consumer of WalletConnect’s invisible magic. Over time, what was once a quiet utility has become one of the most vital pieces of Web3 infrastructure. And in 2025, WalletConnect is pulling no punches in stepping into its next act.

The Quiet Giant Behind On-chain UX

WalletConnect was never meant to be flashy. It doesn’t mint yield farms or host NFT launches. Its product lives in the background linking wallets and apps securely, seamlessly. But that’s exactly why it matters so much.

By mid-2025, WalletConnect had processed over 300 million cumulative connections, according to a Blockworks ecosystem report.

Its network serves more than 47.5 million unique wallets and supports more than 66,500 integrated dApps.

Other sources affirm similar scale: over 275 million connections and 45 million users globally using over 61,000 apps and 600+ wallets.

These aren’t just vanity stats. They signal that when someone “connects their wallet,” there’s a strong chance WalletConnect is doing the heavy lifting.

Smart Sessions: WalletConnect’s Leap Toward Intelligence

But the team isn’t content with being the connective tissue. The next wave: Smart Sessions. Think of them as “once-and-done” connections, where a user grants permission to a dApp (or even an AI agent) to act on their behalf under controlled rules. No endless wallet pop-ups. No repeated authorizations.

According to WalletConnect’s blog, Smart Sessions aim to reduce friction and catalyze automated behaviors like DCA strategies, arbitrage, or recurring transfers.

As Blockworks describes it: “Instead of endless wallet popups, users connect once, set clear rules, and delegate permission to an app or AI agent to transact on their behalf within secure, predefined guardrails.”

And the economic model is curious these sessions may demand fees in WCT, the native token. That means Smart Sessions aren’t just UX; they’re a new revenue and utility layer for WalletConnect.

From Protocol to Economy: WCT Rising

WalletConnect’s ambitions hinge partly on WCT the governance & utility token of the network. It’s no longer just a “governance” token; it’s shaping into a core unit of economic activity.

Some key numbers and developments:

Native tokenomics: WCT is allocated across the foundation, airdrops, team, staking, etc.

Coinbase recently added WCT to its listing roadmap, signaling stronger institutional interest.

In mid-2025, WalletConnect announced new governance tools and incentives, including an airdrop, to decentralize decision-making.

However, WCT has had its challenges. While it has strong utility aspirations, at times it trades well below its all-time highs.

The success of Smart Sessions and the utility adoption of WCT will be critical if the token remains only speculative, the system loses coherence.

Standards, Certification & UX Quality

Another subtle but important initiative is WalletConnect Certified and WalletGuide.

WalletConnect Certified is a standard for wallet apps to ensure they meet certain UX, security, and integration benchmarks. In one recent round, nine new wallets joined this program (Fireblocks, CTRL, Blockchain.com, Rakuten, BitPay, xPortal, Bitcoin.com, Bifrost, and Best).

Meanwhile, WalletGuide serves as a directory and quality filter for wallets that adhere to those standards.

These efforts help reduce fragmentation. Users can trust certified wallets, and developers gain clarity on integration expectations.

What’s Next Risks & Opportunities

WalletConnect’s roadmap is big and bold. But big roadmaps come with big challenges.

Security and privacy: The relay layer must remain robust. Any vulnerability in the connection logic could cascade across the ecosystem.

Token utility vs speculation: WCT needs genuine usage (Smart Sessions, governance, fees) to avoid becoming another “governance token with no work.”

Adoption inertia: Changing user behavior is hard. Many dApps and wallets are deeply entrenched in existing patterns.

Regulation: As WalletConnect becomes more than just a connector as it becomes a financial infrastructure it may face oversight scrutiny.

If all goes well, though, WalletConnect could become to Web3 what Stripe is to fintech a silent, indispensable infrastructure you won’t see, but absolutely rely on.@WalletConnect #WalletConnect $WCT