What Is WalletConnect?
WalletConnect (WC) is an open-source protocol that lets you securely connect your crypto wallet to decentralized apps (DApps). It was created in 2018 by Pedro Gomes and quickly became one of the main standards in Web3. Today, more than 50 million active wallets use WalletConnect, with over 350 million successful connections, and 70,000+ DApps already support it.
Key Takeaways
- 50M+ wallets use WalletConnect to access DeFi, NFT and other Web3 apps - it’s one of the most widely used login standards in crypto.
- 70,000+ DApps already support WalletConnect, including Uniswap, OpenSea, PancakeSwap, Aave and other top platforms.
How Does WalletConnect Work?
Imagine you want to buy an NFT, swap tokens on a decentralized exchange or use another Web3 service. When you select the option “Connect Wallet with WalletConnect”, the app shows a QR code. You simply scan this code with your crypto wallet, and a secure encrypted connection is created between the DApp and your device. This way, WalletConnect works as a bridge between your wallet and the decentralized application. After that, all requests - like “swap tokens” or “send a transaction” - go directly to your wallet, and you decide whether to approve or reject them. The important thing is that your private key always stays with you, and the app never gets access to your crypto.
How to Connect Your Wallet to a DApp via WalletConnect?
In practice, it’s very simple: you open the DApp, tap “Connect / WalletConnect”, scan the QR code in your wallet, and you get instant access. Below are the most common ways WC is used in the crypto industry:
1. How to Use WalletConnect on a DEX
With WalletConnect, you can connect to popular DEX platforms like PancakeSwap, HyperLiquid, and others. For example, you can swap USDC for ETH on Uniswap directly through Gem Wallet. All you need to do is open the DEX website, choose WalletConnect, find your wallet through the search (or scan the QR code), and then confirm the transaction in the app.
Connecting Gem Wallet to Uniswap with WalletConnect: find it in the search - and you’re ready to use DeFi. Source: app.uniswap.org
2. How to Buy NFTs With WalletConnect
WalletConnect is used on NFT marketplaces like OpenSea, where NFT trading volume exceeded $400M in October 2025 alone. This means that buying NFTs is active and widespread - and all you need to take part is to connect your wallet to OpenSea through WalletConnect and confirm the purchase directly. The process is secure and does not require sharing personal data.
3. How to Connect to DeFi via WalletConnect
WalletConnect allows you to access major DeFi services directly from your wallet through a secure QR-code connection. For example, if you want to add your USDT to a liquidity pool (a shared reserve that other users borrow from) and earn interest on your stablecoins, you can simply connect your wallet to Aave through WalletConnect and send USDT to the pool right from your wallet.
Connecting to the Aave protocol: select WalletConnect and scan the QR code in Gem Wallet. Source: app.aave.com
Is WalletConnect Secure?
Authorization through WalletConnect is one of the most secure methods available. You don’t need to enter an email, phone number, create a password, or trust your data to a third-party service - access is confirmed only through your wallet. You simply scan a QR code, and the connection is created directly, without sharing personal information and without giving anyone access to your private keys. An email can be hacked, a password can be guessed, a phone number can be blocked, but gaining access to your wallet is not that simple. Login and password were a security standard 10 years ago, but today they are easily compromised, which is why connecting through WalletConnect is considered one of the most secure forms of authorization on the internet.
Important: Even with a secure WalletConnect session, you still need to follow basic precautions: use only trusted DApps, avoid scanning random QR codes, and, if possible, keep separate wallets - one for everyday transactions and another for storing your main balance.
Gem Wallet - the Best Secure Wallet for Using WalletConnect
Gem Wallet is your secure and user-friendly way to access DApps and DeFi through WalletConnect. We support WalletConnect 2.0 - the new version of the protocol that lets you work with multiple networks, reconnect without scanning a QR code, and fully control permissions inside the session.
Why Use WalletConnect With Gem Wallet?
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Security: Gem Wallet is a self-custody, open-source wallet, so when you use WalletConnect, your private keys are never shared with the DApp or any server - they stay only on your device.
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Full Control: When you connect wallet through WC, every action is executed only after your explicit approval. No transaction, request, or signature can happen without your consent.
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Privacy: WalletConnect never sends personal data to the DApp, and Gem Wallet doesn’t collect it in the first place - which means you don’t share your email, login, password, or phone number when you connect.
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Access to DeFi: WC is not supported in every network, but Gem Wallet covers all popular blockchains - Bitcoin, Ethereum, Arbitrum, BNB Chain, Solana, Sui, Base and more. This means you can swap BNB to CAKE on PancakeSwap, buy NFTs on OpenSea or Magic Eden, trade USDC on Hyperliquid, stake ETH via Lido - all in one app, in a few seconds.
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Convenience: With Gem Wallet, the whole Web3 world is in your phone - just scan the QR code, approve the request, and the DApp is connected.
