Digital assets are scattered everywhere. You have some tokens in one app, NFTs in another, and crypto in yet another wallet. It's a mess. Cross-app wallets fix this problem by letting you use the same wallet across multiple apps. Here's how they work and why they matter.
What Are Cross-App Wallets?
Think of cross-app wallets as your universal digital identity. Instead of creating a new wallet for every app you use, you get one wallet that works everywhere.
Regular embedded wallets only work in one app. So if you buy an NFT in one marketplace, you can't easily use it in a game or another app. Cross-app wallets solve this by creating a secure connection between your wallet and any app that supports it.
How We Got Here
Most apps today give you an embedded wallet when you sign up. This makes onboarding easy, but it creates a problem: your assets get stuck in that app. Want to use your tokens somewhere else? You have to transfer them manually.
Cross-app wallets change this. Your wallet becomes portable, and your assets can move with you between apps.
What Makes Cross-App Wallets Special
One Wallet, All Your Stuff
The biggest benefit is simple: you deposit money once, and it works everywhere. No more moving tokens between different wallets when you switch apps.
Login Once, Use Everywhere
You sign in to your wallet once, and then you can use any connected app without signing in again. It's like having a universal login for the entire ecosystem.
Everything Looks Familiar
Cross-app wallets keep the same interface across different apps. So once you learn how to use one, you know how to use them all.
Better Security
Since your wallet works across multiple apps, the security has to be rock solid. These wallets use extra protection to make sure that if one app has problems, your other assets stay safe.
You Stay in Control
Every time an app wants to do something with your wallet, you get a popup asking for permission. Unless you've set up a session key, nothing happens without your approval.
Who's Building Cross-App Wallets
Several companies are working on this problem:
Openfort
Openfort built an ecosystem SDK that includes authentication, UI, and communication protocols. It works with existing wallets and focuses on making everything feel seamless. They even support the Mobile Wallet Protocol from Coinbase.
Privy
Privy was one of the first to figure this out. They let teams make their embedded wallets work with other apps, so users can move between platforms easily.
Sequence
Sequence lets you use the same wallet address across different apps. Their solution works with external marketplaces, DEXs, and other applications.
Dynamic
Dynamic provides tools for cross-app connectivity, combining authentication and smart wallets. They let users connect their embedded wallets to other apps using things like WalletConnect QR codes.
Para
Para focuses on "Wallet Portability." You can access the same wallet across different apps using your email address instead of tying wallets to individual apps. They're big on security and only give apps the access they actually need.
How Openfort Does Cross-App Wallets
Openfort's approach to cross-app wallets stands out because they focus on building complete ecosystems while keeping everything secure and flexible for developers. Check out their demo with RapidFire ID to see how it works.
Building Your Own Ecosystem
Openfort created an Ecosystem SDK specifically for managing assets and identities across multiple apps. As they put it: "At the core of our Ecosystem SDK is the concept of a unified wallet, which allows players to use a single wallet across multiple games within the same ecosystem."
What Openfort's Solution Can Do
Your Brand Everywhere
Openfort lets companies create their own branded wallet ecosystem. You can build "Login With Your Brand" that works with major wallet tools like RainbowKit and ConnectKit.
Your Own NPM Package
Openfort gives companies their own NPM package. This means seamless navigation between apps with powerful SDKs and single wallet authentication.
Works on Everything
Openfort works natively on iOS and Android with React Native support. They even contributed to the Mobile Wallet Protocol with a Unity-compatible library that anyone can use.
Real-World Examples
Gaming Ecosystems
Openfort's solution works really well for gaming. Their case study with Beam shows how they onboarded thousands of users using the Ecosystem SDK, building what they call "the first cross-app and cross-platform wallet in the market for gamers."
Players keep the same identity and manage their assets across all games in an ecosystem. No more complicated onboarding or confusing asset management.
Connected Apps
Gaming isn't the only use case. Openfort works great for companies building multiple apps that need to share user data and assets. When you do this right, you can even add new revenue streams through onchain actions like subscriptions or token swaps.
Blockchain Networks
Cross-app wallets are especially valuable for blockchains that want to create a unified experience for developers and users. Having their own "chain wallet" lets them build relationships with users and potentially capture transaction fees.
What's Coming Next
As more people use digital assets, cross-app wallets will become even more important. Being able to move assets freely between apps is a big shift from the current siloed approach.
Openfort's vision captures this well: "Our vision is to empower developers to create the next generation of ecosystems-where users enjoy a unified experience, and developers can easily manage ecosystems."
The Bottom Line
Cross-app wallets solve a real problem: the mess of having assets scattered across multiple apps. They let users access their assets and identity seamlessly across different platforms, making everything simpler and opening up new possibilities.
Openfort's solution stands out because it gives developers the tools to create unified ecosystems with consistent user experiences. As digital assets become more mainstream, cross-app wallets will probably become the standard way to connect different apps into working ecosystems.
Common Questions About Cross-App Wallets
What exactly is a cross-app wallet?
A cross-app wallet lets you manage your digital assets - crypto, NFTs, tokens - across multiple apps with one account. No more juggling multiple wallets or moving assets around manually.
How are they different from regular wallets?
Regular wallets usually only work in one app. Cross-app wallets work everywhere, so you can use your assets across various connected apps without signing in repeatedly or transferring tokens.
What are the main benefits?
- All your assets in one place
- Sign in once, use everywhere
- Everything looks and feels the same
- Better security and privacy controls
- Much easier onboarding
Who makes the best cross-app wallets?
The main players are Privy, Sequence, and Openfort. Each has different features, but they all focus on making assets work across multiple apps.
Why is Openfort's different?
Openfort focuses on developer-friendly tools and lets companies create their own branded wallet ecosystems. You can set up a unified login and wallet experience across all your apps pretty easily.
How do they work with games and NFTs?
In gaming, players use the same identity and assets across multiple games in an ecosystem. For NFTs, you can buy something in one marketplace and use it in other compatible apps, making your digital stuff more valuable.
Is it hard to add Openfort to my app?
Nope. Openfort provides good documentation and tools that let developers set up cross-app wallets in about 15 minutes.
Are they secure?
Yes. Companies like Openfort use encryption, require user consent for cross-app actions, and have solid recovery options. Your assets and data stay protected across all connected apps.