Use Circle Wallets

Choose and implement the right Circle wallet type for your application. Compares developer-controlled, user-controlled, and modular (passkey) wallets across custody model, key management, account types, blockchain support, and use cases. Use whenever blockchain wallet integrations are required for onchain application development. Triggers on: circle wallets, blockchain wallets, choose wallet, wallet comparison, which wallet, wallet types, EOA vs SCA vs MSCA, custody model, embedded wallet, smart account, programmable wallets, create wallet, onchain wallet.

Overview

Circle offers three wallet types -- developer-controlled, user-controlled, and modular -- each with different custody models, account types, key management, and capabilities. This skill helps you pick the right one.

Quick Comparison

	Developer-Controlled	User-Controlled	Modular (Passkey)
Custody	Developer	User	User
Auth	Entity secret (backend)	Social login / email OTP / PIN	Passkey (WebAuthn)
Account types	EOA, SCA	EOA, SCA	MSCA only
Gas sponsorship	SCA via Gas Station	SCA via Gas Station	Gas Station or third-party paymaster
Custom modules	No	No	Yes
Architecture	Backend SDK only	Backend + frontend SDKs	Frontend SDK only

Decision Guide

For the latest supported blockchains: https://developers.circle.com/wallets/account-types

Step 1 -- Who controls the keys?

• Developer controls (no user approval) -> Developer-controlled wallets -> Step 3
• End user controls -> Step 2

Step 2 -- Auth method?

• Passkey (WebAuthn biometric) with extensible modules -> Modular wallets -> Step 4
• Social login, email OTP, or PIN -> User-controlled wallets -> Step 3

Step 3 -- Account type?

• Solana, Aptos, or NEAR -> EOA (only option)
• Ethereum mainnet -> EOA (SCA gas costs prohibitive, MSCA not supported)
• L2 (Arbitrum, Base, Polygon, Optimism, etc.) -> SCA if gas sponsorship or batching needed; EOA if max TPS needed

Step 4 -- Chain check (Modular wallets)

• Supported: Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base, Monad, Optimism, Polygon, Unichain
• NOT supported: Ethereum, Solana, Aptos, NEAR. Fall back to user-controlled wallets with SCA.

Example Scenarios

Scenario	Decision	Skill
Payment backend, programmatic payouts, high TPS	Developer-controlled + EOA	use-developer-controlled-wallets
Consumer app with Google/Apple login, gasless UX	User-controlled + SCA on L2	use-user-controlled-wallets
DeFi app with biometric auth, custom modules	Modular on L2	use-modular-wallets
NFT marketplace on Ethereum L1	User-controlled + EOA	use-user-controlled-wallets
AI agent, autonomous multi-chain transactions	Developer-controlled + EOA	use-developer-controlled-wallets

Implementation Patterns

Once a wallet type has been determined, TRIGGER the corresponding skill:

• Developer-controlled -> use-developer-controlled-wallets skill
• User-controlled -> use-user-controlled-wallets skill
• Modular (Passkey) -> use-modular-wallets skill

Strict Rules

• ALWAYS select the wallet type before starting implementation using the comparison table and decision guide above.
• ALWAYS use EOA on Ethereum mainnet (SCA gas prohibitive, MSCA not supported) and on Solana, Aptos, NEAR (SCA/MSCA not available).
• ALWAYS prefer SCA or MSCA on L2 chains (Arbitrum, Base, Polygon, Optimism, etc.) when gas sponsorship or batch operations are needed.
• NEVER mix wallet types in a single user flow -- pick one and use its corresponding skill.
• ALWAYS delegate to the specific wallet skill (use-developer-controlled-wallets, use-user-controlled-wallets, or use-modular-wallets) for implementation.

Reference Links

• Account Types
• Choosing Your Wallet Type
• Key Management
• Circle Developer Docs -- Always read this first when looking for relevant documentation from the source website.

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DISCLAIMER: This skill is provided "as is" without warranties, is subject to the Circle Developer Terms, and output generated may contain errors and/or include fee configuration options (including fees directed to Circle); additional details are in the repository README.