Trust is the deciding factor when a user picks a wallet, and when an institution picks a custody or wallet partner. WalletConnect Certified exists to make that trust visible. It's a status that wallets and institutional wallet providers earn on the WalletConnect network, and it comes with real distribution, visibility, and reward benefits attached.
Here's what WalletConnect Certified actually means, why it matters differently for retail wallets versus institutions, how it affects where a wallet shows up when users connect to apps, and how to think about earning it.
What is WalletConnect Certified?
WalletConnect Certified is a status wallets earn through the WalletConnect SDK for Wallets, the integration that connects a wallet to 80,000+ apps across every major chain. Certification signals that a wallet meets WalletConnect's standards for reliability, usability, security, and interoperability on the network.
Every wallet connected through WalletConnect can be listed on WalletGuide, WalletConnect's wallet directory. Certification adds a distinct layer on top of that:
- A Certified badge shown in the connection experience when users connect to an app
- Placement ahead of non-certified wallets in the wallet list shown during connection, with your rank shaped mainly by network participation, meaning connection volume.
- Access to exclusive programs
- Reward eligibility as part of WalletConnect's wider rewards program
For a wallet already connected through the WalletConnect SDK for Wallets, Certified status is the next step: proof of quality that's visible to the 900M+ users and thousands of institutions moving through the network.
Why certification affects where your wallet shows up
Every time a user connects to an app through WalletConnect, they see a wallet list. WalletConnect Certified wallets appear ahead of non-certified wallets in that list, giving certified wallets a visibility advantage at the exact moment users choose which wallet to use.
Certification itself is the quality standard: it's what earns a wallet its badge and rank ahead of non-certified wallets. Where a wallet sits relative to other certified wallets in that list comes down mainly to network participation, volume, and connections through WalletConnect. A limited number of positions can also be reserved by Certified wallets through a placement program; that doesn't change certification status itself, and it only ever applies to a small number of spots.
Getting certified is what sets your wallet apart at the point in the user journey that matters most: the moment of connection. From there, staying active on the network is what keeps moving you up.
WalletConnect Certified for wallets
If you run a retail wallet, WalletConnect Certified is a distribution lever, not just a badge.
Your users already expect to do more than store assets in a wallet. They want to connect to apps, earn, and spend, all without funds leaving custody. The WalletConnect SDK for Wallets gives you that connection to 80,000+ apps in a single integration. WalletConnect Certified builds on top of it:
- A Certified badge next to your WalletGuide listing signals quality to users browsing WalletConnect's wallet directory.
- Placement ahead of non-certified wallets in the wallet list, earned mainly through your network participation.
- Access to exclusive programs, like better staking rewards once you're certified.
- Reward eligibility, as part of WalletConnect's wider rewards program for wallets.
WalletConnect Pay is part of the Certified program itself, and it turns a certified wallet into a spendable one too, letting users pay any merchant online or in store while the wallet earns interchange-like revenue on every transaction.
WalletConnect Certified for institutions
For custodians and institutional wallet providers, the calculation is different. Your clients aren't choosing based on rewards; they're choosing based on security, custody guarantees, and whether their controls stay intact.
That's where WalletConnect Institutional Certified comes in. It's the institutional variant of Certified status, and it exists to signal institutional-grade trust and security rather than consumer-facing distribution. Certified institutional wallets get:
- A trust signal for institutional-grade infrastructure, backed by WalletConnect's own SOC 2 Type II compliance, audited on a recurring basis
- Access without compromise: institutions connect to 80,000+ apps through the WalletConnect SDK for Wallets while assets stay in custody, with your own auth, policy engine, and KYC in place throughout
- Placement ahead of non-certified institutional infrastructure, since certification and ranking work the same way across the network regardless of wallet type
For an institution weighing which wallet infrastructure to build on or partner with, Certified status is a fast way to separate infrastructure that meets the bar from infrastructure that hasn't been evaluated at all.
How wallets earn WalletConnect Certified status
Certification is built around meeting WalletConnect's standards on the network rather than a one-off application. In broad terms, the path looks like:
- Check eligibility against WalletConnect's certification criteria, covered in the WalletGuide submission guide in WalletConnect's docs.
- Meet the latest season's requirements, closing any gaps in integration, reliability, or security.
- Submit for review with the WalletConnect team.
- Get certified, with your Certified badge, wallet list placement, and reward eligibility live.
Certification isn't a one-time achievement. Wallets that no longer meet the standard can lose Certified status, along with the ranking and benefits that come with it, so staying certified means staying current on the requirements. See the latest certification criteria in WalletConnect's docs before you apply. And when you’re ready, fill out the application form.
Why WalletConnect Certified matters
WalletConnect connects 900M+ users, 700+ wallets, and 80,000+ apps across all major blockchains, with $400B+ in annual network transaction volume. At that scale, distribution and trust don't happen by default. Certified status is how WalletConnect surfaces the wallets, retail and institutional, that meet its standards, so users, apps, and institutions across the network know which integrations to trust, and which wallets to see first.
FAQ
What is WalletConnect Certified?
WalletConnect Certified is a status wallets earn on the WalletConnect network through the WalletConnect SDK for Wallets. It comes with a Certified badge, placement ahead of non-certified wallets in the wallet list, access to exclusive programs like priority placement, and reward eligibility.
What is WalletConnect Institutional Certified?
WalletConnect Institutional Certified is the institutional version of Certified status. It signals institutional-grade trust and security for custodians and institutional wallet providers, backed by WalletConnect's SOC 2 Type II compliance.
Do certified wallets rank higher than non-certified wallets?
Yes. Certified wallets appear ahead of non-certified wallets in the wallet list users see when connecting to apps through WalletConnect. Rank among certified wallets is driven mainly by network participation, meaning connection volume, rather than paid placement.
Do wallets need the WalletConnect SDK for Wallets to get Certified?
Yes. Certified status builds on the WalletConnect SDK for Wallets integration, which connects a wallet to 80,000+ apps across every major chain, and includes WalletConnect Pay as part of the certified program itself.
Can a wallet lose Certified status?
Yes. Certification reflects an ongoing standard, not a one-time approval, so wallets that fall short of the requirements can be de-certified until they meet them again.
Want to explore what WalletConnect Certified could mean for your wallet or institution? Get in touch with the WalletConnect team.