Ship or Die at Accelerate 2025: WalletConnect on Solana

In a groundbreaking announcement at Accelerate 2025, WalletConnect founder Pedro Gomes revealed that the WalletConnect token is coming natively to Solana, marking a significant expansion of the protocol's multi-chain capabilities and acknowledging Solana's explosive growth in the blockchain space.

Summary

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WalletConnect, a protocol known for its interoperability solutions in the blockchain world, has been a key player in connecting different wallets across various chains since 2018. The protocol has seen tremendous growth, now boasting 45 million unique active wallets and over 300 million cumulative connections.

Pedro Gomes, founder of WalletConnect and director of the WalletConnect Foundation, highlighted the protocol's journey from its inception to its current status as a decentralized network with 16 node operators. The introduction of the WalletConnect token last year on Ethereum was a crucial step in involving the community in governance and incentivizing the core infrastructure.

The announcement of native Solana support for the WalletConnect token represents a significant shift in the protocol's strategy. This move acknowledges Solana's rapid growth and aims to tap into its vibrant ecosystem of developers, users, and partners. By bringing the token natively to Solana, WalletConnect is reinforcing its commitment to a truly multi-chain future and expanding its community engagement across different blockchain ecosystems.

Key Points:

WalletConnect's Growth and Impact

WalletConnect has been a pivotal player in the blockchain space since 2018, providing essential interoperability solutions. The protocol's famous QR codes have become a staple for users connecting their wallets across different chains and applications. This universal connectivity has been a key factor in WalletConnect's impressive growth.

The protocol now boasts 45 million unique active wallets, a testament to its widespread adoption. These wallets, whether on mobile or desktop, have facilitated over 300 million cumulative connections. This massive user base spans across various blockchain ecosystems, including Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Solana, showcasing WalletConnect's crucial role in enhancing user experience across the blockchain landscape.

Decentralization and Token Introduction

In a significant move towards decentralization, WalletConnect established a network of 16 node operators last year. This expansion not only increased the protocol's global reach but also allowed for greater community involvement in its operations.

Alongside this decentralization effort, WalletConnect introduced its native token. This token plays a vital role in the protocol's ecosystem, enabling governance participation from builders, partners, node operators, and wallet providers. It also facilitates staking and rewards, providing essential incentives for maintaining and developing the core infrastructure of WalletConnect.

Native Solana Support for WalletConnect Token

The announcement of native Solana support for the WalletConnect token marks a pivotal moment in the protocol's evolution. This move is driven by WalletConnect's commitment to building a true multi-chain future, recognizing that limiting the token to a single chain ecosystem would be counterproductive to this vision.

By bringing the token natively to Solana, WalletConnect is tapping into one of the fastest-growing blockchain ecosystems. This decision acknowledges Solana's impressive growth in terms of developers, users, and overall adoption. It also opens up new opportunities for collaboration and integration within the Solana ecosystem, potentially leading to enhanced user experiences and more seamless interoperability.

Community Engagement and Ecosystem Growth

The expansion to Solana is not just about technical integration; it's a strategic move to engage with a vibrant and rapidly growing community. WalletConnect sees this as an opportunity to connect with builders, developers, designers, and innovators who are shaping the future of blockchain technology.

By having the WalletConnect token natively on Solana, the protocol aims to tap into the network effects of this ecosystem. This move allows Solana-based projects, creators, and partners to more easily integrate with and benefit from the WalletConnect ecosystem. It's a step towards creating a more inclusive and diverse blockchain landscape, where different communities can interact and collaborate more effectively.

Facts + Figures

• WalletConnect has been building since 2018, marking seven years of development and growth
• The protocol currently has 45 million unique active wallets
• WalletConnect has facilitated over 300 million cumulative connections
• The protocol works across multiple chains including Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Solana
• WalletConnect decentralized last year by establishing a network of 16 node operators
• The WalletConnect token was initially launched on Ethereum
• The token enables governance participation from various stakeholders in the ecosystem
• WalletConnect is now bringing its token natively to Solana
• The move to Solana is driven by the chain's significant growth in developers, users, and adoption
• Native Solana support will allow the WalletConnect token to tap into new community and ecosystem effects

Top quotes

1. "WalletConnect has been present in Solana. But it's truly when you come to these events that you see the amazing community that it has."
2. "We do provide that choice. The interoperability for users to really use any wallet on any chain and on any app."
3. "WalletConnect is really capturing a lot of users. And today, we will find 45 million unique active wallets."
4. "We have decentralized last year by building a network with 16 node operators."
5. "WalletConnect token is coming natively on Solana."
6. "We wouldn't be building a multi-chain future if the WalletConnect token would be only available in one chain ecosystem."
7. "We cannot ignore the growth. Like the growth that has been seen across not only developers, but also users and adoption across Solana."
8. "The community aspect is truly what is the most important thing."

Questions Answered

What is WalletConnect?

WalletConnect is a protocol that provides interoperability solutions in the blockchain world. It allows users to connect different wallets across various chains and applications, most commonly recognized by its QR code connection method. WalletConnect has been building since 2018 and has grown to support 45 million unique active wallets with over 300 million cumulative connections across multiple blockchain ecosystems.

Why is WalletConnect bringing its token to Solana?

WalletConnect is bringing its token natively to Solana to support its vision of a true multi-chain future. This move acknowledges Solana's significant growth in terms of developers, users, and overall adoption. By expanding to Solana, WalletConnect aims to tap into a vibrant ecosystem, engage with a new community of builders and creators, and enhance its interoperability across different blockchain networks.

How does the WalletConnect token work?

The WalletConnect token plays a crucial role in the protocol's ecosystem. It enables governance participation from various stakeholders including builders, partners, node operators, and wallet providers. The token also facilitates staking and rewards, providing incentives for maintaining and developing WalletConnect's core infrastructure. Initially launched on Ethereum, the token is now expanding to Solana to broaden its reach and utility.

What impact will this have on the Solana ecosystem?

Bringing the WalletConnect token natively to Solana will likely have a significant impact on the ecosystem. It will allow Solana-based projects, creators, and partners to more easily integrate with and benefit from the WalletConnect ecosystem. This move could lead to enhanced interoperability, new use cases, and potentially drive further adoption of both WalletConnect and Solana technologies. It also represents a vote of confidence in Solana's growing importance in the blockchain space.

How has WalletConnect grown since its inception?

Since its launch in 2018, WalletConnect has seen tremendous growth. The protocol now supports 45 million unique active wallets and has facilitated over 300 million cumulative connections. WalletConnect has also expanded its reach across multiple blockchain ecosystems including Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Solana. In the past year, the protocol decentralized by establishing a network of 16 node operators and introduced its native token, marking significant milestones in its development.

What are the benefits of WalletConnect's interoperability?

WalletConnect's interoperability provides users with the freedom to use any wallet on any chain and any app. This flexibility enhances user experience by removing barriers between different blockchain ecosystems. It allows for seamless interactions across various platforms, potentially increasing adoption and usage of blockchain technologies. For developers and projects, WalletConnect's interoperability can broaden their potential user base and simplify integration with multiple wallet types.