What is WalletConnect?
WalletConnect is a protocol / infrastructure layer that enables secure connections between wallets and decentralized applications (dApps). It supports multiple wallets, chains, and is designed to improve user experience (UX) in Web3 by reducing friction (e.g. scanning QR codes, approving transactions) and improving interoperability.
In 2025, WalletConnect has added (or is adding) additional layers: a native token (WCT), staking, governance, expansion of supported chains, node-operator network growth, and features to make sessions smarter / more automated.
Key Latest Updates & Projects
Here are the recent and upcoming developments for WalletConnect as of mid- to late-2025:
1. WCT Token, Staking, and Governance
The WalletConnect Token (WCT) is live and is central to the protocol’s move toward decentralized governance. Token holders are expected to vote on major network upgrades and protocol changes.
Staking of WCT is active. As of the “Ecosystem Edit Fifth Edition”, over 106 million WCT are staked. Rewards for staking can go up to ~22% APY in some cases.
There is also efforts to open up governance (voting, proposals) more to the community. Also increasing the number of node operators to make the network more decentralized.
2. Smart Sessions: Automation & Better UX
WalletConnect has introduced / is pushing a feature called Smart Sessions (also described as “Automated Onchain Actions” or permissioned sessions). The idea: instead of the user having to confirm every transaction, the user can define permissions/rules (guard rails), and apps (or AI-agents) can act under those constraints.
Applications include: automated trading (DCA), subscription payments, autonomous/onchain games, and more seamless mobile interactions.
3. Chain Expansion / Cross-Chain Support
WalletConnect is expanding beyond just Ethereum and “typical” EVM chains. For example, integration with Sui via Fireblocks has added institutional access to that chain.
It is also now live on Solana: there was a 5 million WCT allocation for active Solana users to encourage adoption in that ecosystem. Partners include Phantom, Jupiter, Backpack, Solflare, Solana Mobile.
4. Growth & Network Metrics
As of May 2025, WalletConnect had processed over 300 million cumulative connections, with tens of millions of unique wallets. For example, in May, connections passed ~309 million; unique wallets over 47.5 million.
The number of apps integrated has also been increasing; apps & wallets continue to add WalletConnect support by default.
5. Wallet Certification / WalletGuide Program
WalletConnect has a “Certified Wallets” (WalletConnect-Certified) / WalletGuide program: wallets are evaluated on security, UX, features, and integration quality. Gold badge or certification increases trust for users selecting wallets.
Recently, Best Wallet (token: BEST) was certified. It integrates multiple chains, has DEX integrations, has features in presale etc.
6. Node Operator Expansion & Decentralization
More node operators are joining the WalletConnect Network to support better performance, reliability, decentralization.
There are also plans / momentum toward permissionless node operations (where more participants can run relay / node infrastructure without needing special permission).
7. ** Upcoming/Announced Roadmap Items**
Major announcements in Q4 2025 concerning the network and WCT, pointing toward new features, expansions.
Introduction of “Total Value Facilitated” (TVF) as a metric to show real volume flowing through the network.
Community fee proposals, mechanism design, expanding staking features and chain integrations.
Challenges & Risks
While the outlook is positive, there are several areas that need attention:
User Trust & UX Safety: With Smart Sessions / permissioned agents able to act on behalf of users, users need strong guardrails. If something goes wrong (bugs, security issues), potential for misuse is high.
Regulation & Compliance: Any protocol that allows automated transactions and agent-based actions could face regulatory scrutiny, especially in jurisdictions sensitive to automated financial operations (subscriptions, recurring payments, etc.).
Tokenomics Pressure: Though staking rewards are high, the vesting / unlocked supply, and how much of WCT supply is locked, could pressure the token if many tokens unlock at once. Also ensuring that staking incentives are sustainable.
Competition & Standards: Other wallet-connectivity or UX-improvement protocols could arise. Also, user expectations (speed, reliability, cost) are high. Chains with better native UX may reduce need for third-party layers.
Decentralization vs Performance Trade-offs: Allowing more node operators, making networks more permissionless, tends to introduce complexity. Ensuring fast, low-latency relay, secure messaging, and reliable sessions at scale is non-trivial
What to Watch Next
Here are things to keep an eye on over the coming months:
Release & adoption of Smart Sessions in real-world dApps. Are they stable, secure, intuitive?
How WCT governance proposals play out. Will tokenholders truly get decision power? What features will be driven by governance?
Cross-chain expansion: how well does WalletConnect perform on Solana, Sui, etc. Are there unique challenges per chain?
Fee structures: are transaction/session fees introduced? How will relays / node operators be compensated?
Metrics like total number of sessions, transaction volume (value facilitated), adoption in mobile environments.
Security incidents (if any), especially with session permissions / agents.
Summary & Outlook
WalletConnect in 2025 is evolving from a protocol that mainly “connects wallets with apps securely” toward a more complex, decentralized infrastructure: tokenization (WCT), governance, automation (Smart Sessions), multi-chain expansion, certification, and UX improvements. Its success will depend on executing these features safely & reliably, winning trust of users, and proving that the automated, AI/agent-based model works in practice.
If it does, WalletConnect could become a major backbone for Web3 UX, powering seamless interactions, reducing friction, enabling new use cases (subscriptions, bots, etc.), and serving a broad cross-chain user base.
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