Embedded Wallets Explained: Features, Top Providers, and How to Start

9 min read

Embedded Wallets Explained: Features, Top Providers, and How to Start

Embedded wallets are changing how users interact with blockchain technology, removing traditional barriers to entry and creating seamless experiences that feel more like conventional web applications. This comprehensive guide explores what embedded wallets are, their key features, leading providers, and how Openfort's embedded wallet solution is reshaping the landscape for developers and users alike.

Understanding Embedded Wallets: The Next Evolution in Crypto Access

Embedded wallets represent a significant advancement in how users interact with blockchain applications and digital assets. Unlike traditional crypto wallets that require separate downloads, extensions, or applications, embedded wallets are integrated directly into the host platform or application interface.

These innovative wallets eliminate the need for users to manage seed phrases or navigate between multiple applications to complete transactions. Instead, they offer familiar authentication methods such as email or social login, dramatically simplifying the onboarding process for newcomers to the Web3 space.

The fundamental difference lies in the user experience: embedded wallets operate invisibly within the application itself, allowing users to interact with blockchain functionality without the technical complexity that has historically deterred mainstream adoption.

How Embedded Wallets Work

When a user interacts with an application featuring an embedded wallet, the process typically follows these steps:

  1. The user authenticates using familiar credentials (email, social media accounts, phone, passkeys, etc.)
  2. A private key is generated and store in either the user's device or a server.
  3. This key is secured using advanced cryptographic methods (many examples here like multi-party computation).
  4. The user can then perform transactions directly within the app interface.

This streamlined process eliminates the need for users to understand blockchain complexities while still maintaining the security and self-custody benefits of traditional wallets.

Key Features of Embedded Wallets

Seedless Self-Custody

One of the most significant advantages of embedded wallets is their ability to provide self-custody without requiring users to manage seed phrases. This removes a major barrier to adoption while maintaining users' control over their digital assets.

Seamless Integration

Embedded wallets are designed to blend into existing platforms, whether they're e-commerce sites, gaming applications, or DeFi protocols. This integration eliminates the friction of switching between applications to authorize transactions.

Enhanced Security

Modern embedded wallets employ sophisticated security measures including encryption, multi-factor authentication, and innovative private key management systems to protect users' assets.

User-Friendly Authentication

Instead of requiring technical knowledge, embedded wallets allow users to authenticate through familiar methods like email, social logins, or even biometrics.

Cross-Chain Compatibility

Many embedded wallet solutions support multiple blockchains, enabling users to interact with various networks through a single interface.

Gasless Transactions

Several embedded wallet providers offer gas abstraction, allowing developers to sponsor transaction fees for their users and creating a frictionless experience. This is possible either using relayers or paymasters.

White-Label Customization

Developers can customize embedded wallets with their own branding and design elements, creating cohesive and platform-specific user experiences.

Top Embedded Wallet Providers in 2025

The embedded wallet space has grown significantly, with several providers offering distinctive solutions tailored to different use cases and requirements:

Openfort

Openfort provides comprehensive wallet infrastructure with features for both web and mobile applications, emphasizing developer flexibility and user-friendly experiences. The main differentiation is in their open-source key management solution.

Privy

Privy focuses on wallet security and user authentication with key splitting (Shamir's secret sharing) while supporting both EVM and SVM-compatible blockchains.

Magic

Magic offers non-custodial embedded wallets with its patented "Delegated Key Management System" and supports various authentication methods.

Alchemy Smart Wallets

Alchemy provides embedded wallet solutions focused on bringing users onchain quickly without seed phrases or gas concerns.

Sequence

Sequence offers ecosystem wallets enabling users to transition between apps and platforms using the same wallet, with both native UI and social login options.

Thirdweb

Thirdweb provides modular, composable embedded wallet solutions with support for both web3 and web2 logins, emphasizing security and customization.

Fireblocks

Fireblocks enables developers to integrate non-custodial MPC wallets into mobile and web applications, supporting over 100 blockchains with features like seedless backup and social recovery.

Openfort's Embedded Wallet Solution: Comprehensive Infrastructure for Developers

Openfort has established itself as a leading provider of embedded wallet technology, offering a robust solution that combines authentication, in-app transaction signing, and smart accounts to enhance user experiences in applications and games.

Key Capabilities of Openfort's Embedded Wallets

Authentication Layer

Openfort's embedded wallets introduce an accessible approach to authentication, allowing users to log in through email, social media accounts, or existing wallets. This bridges the gap between Web3 and traditional web applications, enabling smoother interactions with blockchain-based apps. Today you can either make a headless authentication or simply use the Openfort Kit.

Embedded Wallet Layer

The embedded signer component simplifies authorization by decoupling signing from the user's identity, offering a more secure and flexible transaction process. Users can approve transactions without worrying about key management, ensuring both security and simplicity.

Smart Account Layer

At the core of Openfort's solution is their Smart Account layer. Today there are two types of accounts being supported with Openfort: 1) The Smart EOA -a 7702 compatible account, 2) The Smart Wallet -which leverages ERC-4337 standards to provide advanced features like gasless transactions, automated batch transactions, and enhanced security, all while keeping user assets secure.

Real-World Applications of Embedded Wallets

Gaming and NFTs

Embedded wallets are particularly valuable in gaming applications, allowing players to manage in-game assets without disrupting gameplay. Openfort's solution has helped gaming companies like Moonlit Games reach 150,000 active players with seamless onboarding on mobile.

E-commerce and Consumer

For online retailers, embedded wallets enable cryptocurrency payments directly on their websites without requiring customers to use separate wallet applications. A great example in this realm would be the work done with companies like Gamp, who onboarded thousands of user son day one.

DeFi Applications

Decentralized finance platforms benefit from embedded wallets by providing a more streamlined user experience, removing the barriers that often prevent traditional finance users from exploring DeFi opportunities.

Stablecoins

Stablecoins are the second biggest product market-fit solution after Bitcoin. It enables developers to build on top of borderless money, creating experiences that are not tight to the geography nor the currency. Some interesting examples are super-apps or even payroll providers who deal with international payments.

The Future of Embedded Wallets

As blockchain technology continues to evolve, embedded wallets will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between web2 and web3 experiences. The market for crypto wallets is predicted to surpass $48 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of nearly 25%.

Future developments in embedded wallet technology are likely to include:

  1. Deeper integration with traditional finance systems
  2. Enhanced interoperability between different blockchain networks
  3. More sophisticated identity management solutions
  4. Advanced AI-driven agent capabilities for automated transactions
  5. Improved regulatory compliance features

Conclusion

Embedded wallets represent a significant advancement in how users interact with blockchain technology, removing traditional barriers to entry and creating seamless experiences. As the technology continues to mature, solutions like Openfort's embedded wallets will be essential for businesses looking to incorporate blockchain functionality without sacrificing user experience.

By providing familiar authentication methods, eliminating seed phrase management, and offering robust security features, embedded wallets are paving the way for broader adoption of blockchain technology across various industries. For developers seeking to integrate blockchain functionality into their applications, embedded wallets offer a powerful solution that balances security, functionality, and user experience.


FAQ: Embedded Wallets & Openfort

1. What is an embedded wallet?

An embedded wallet is a digital wallet seamlessly integrated into an app or platform, allowing users to manage crypto assets and interact with blockchain features without needing separate wallet apps or browser extensions. Users can authenticate with familiar methods like email or social login, making blockchain access as easy as using any web service.

2. How do embedded wallets differ from traditional crypto wallets?

Traditional wallets often require users to manage seed phrases and use separate apps or browser extensions. Embedded wallets, on the other hand, are built directly into the user interface of an application, removing the need for complex setup and making blockchain functionality accessible to everyone.

3. What are the main features of embedded wallets?

Key features include:

  • Seedless self-custody (no seed phrase management)
  • Seamless in-app integration
  • User-friendly authentication (email, social login, etc.)
  • Enhanced security via encryption and advanced key management
  • Support for multiple blockchains
  • Gasless and sponsored transactions
  • White-label customization for brands

4. Who are the top embedded wallet providers?

Some leading providers in 2025 include:

  • Openfort
  • Privy
  • Magic
  • Alchemy Smart Wallets
  • Sequence
  • Thirdweb
  • Fireblocks

5. What makes Openfort’s embedded wallet unique?

Openfort offers a full-stack embedded wallet solution with:

  • Easy authentication (email, social, or wallet login)
  • Embedded signer for secure, seamless transactions
  • Smart accounts supporting gasless transactions and advanced automation
  • SDKs for web, mobile, and gaming platforms
  • Backend wallet capabilities for programmatic blockchain interactions

6. What are the most common use cases for embedded wallets?

Embedded wallets are popular in:

  • Web3 gaming (in-game assets, NFTs)
  • E-commerce (crypto payments)
  • DeFi apps (streamlined onboarding)
  • Multi-app ecosystems (single wallet across platforms)

7. Are embedded wallets secure?

Yes. Modern embedded wallets use advanced cryptography, multi-factor authentication, and secure key management (like MPC) to ensure user assets are protected, while still offering a simple user experience.

8. How do embedded wallets improve user onboarding?

By removing the need for seed phrases and letting users sign up with familiar credentials, embedded wallets drastically lower the learning curve and friction for new users entering the Web3 space.

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