In recent years, WalletConnect has become a de facto standard in the Web3 ecosystem, allowing millions of users to securely connect wallets and decentralized applications.
From DeFi to NFTs, and even crypto payments, its infrastructure today underpins much of the user experience in the blockchain world.
In an exclusive interview with The Cryptonomist, Jess Houlgrave, CEO of WalletConnect, shared her vision on the main barriers to the mass adoption of DeFi, the evolution of wallets as digital identity tools, and the challenges related to the increasing fragmentation of stablecoins.
User Experience: The Real Barrier to Crypto Adoption
According to Houlgrave, one of the main obstacles to the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies remains the user experience. “Today, using one’s crypto wallet is still too complex for many people,” he explains. Among the main issues are perceived security, the risk of scams, and the excessive number of steps required to complete a transaction.
WalletConnect is aiming to address these issues by focusing on three key aspects: security, simplicity, and interoperability. Tools like the Verify API and certification programs are designed to mitigate the risk of phishing and interactions with fraudulent applications, one of the main concerns for retail users.
“At the same time,” emphasizes the CEO, “the number of clicks required to do anything in crypto is still too high. It’s an issue we are addressing by working closely with our wallet partners.”
Multi-chain and Fragmentation: Too Many Assets, Too Many Networks
The increasing fragmentation of the blockchain landscape represents another significant challenge. New chains and stablecoins emerge every day, creating complexity, especially for the end user.
“Opening a wallet and seeing the same currency repeated ten times across different chains is not an ideal experience,” explains Houlgrave. The risk is making the daily use of digital assets cumbersome, especially in payment contexts.
It is precisely in this scenario that WalletConnect aims to play the role of a neutral and interoperable infrastructure, capable of connecting different ecosystems without adding further complexity for the user.
Integration with TON and Expansion into New Chains
Among the latest developments is the integration with TON Network, a blockchain that boasts a user base of millions, also thanks to the Telegram ecosystem.
WalletConnect, being blockchain-agnostic, can be integrated with any network. However, as Houlgrave explains, the goal is not just to “support” a chain, but to ensure that the experience for developers and users is of the highest quality.
“TON has a massive user base and is experiencing significant growth. We believe it could become one of the main gateways to the crypto world in the coming years,” he states.
Wallet and Digital Identity: A Natural Pairing
One of the most intriguing topics discussed during the interview concerns the future of wallets as tools for digital identity. According to Houlgrave, there will not be a single wallet for everything, but rather a variety of solutions designed for different use cases.
“I will use one wallet for daily transactions and another, with higher security levels, to manage my savings or investments,” he explains.
In this context, identity plays a central role: from simple attestations (such as proving age) to the selective and revocable sharing of personal data. The technological properties of wallets and blockchain make this scenario not only possible but natural.
Privacy and Institutions: The Next Phase of Web3
Privacy is another key issue, especially from an institutional adoption perspective. Houlgrave cites the emergence of new privacy-first blockchains as important signals, but emphasizes that much of the current ecosystem will need to learn to integrate these new standards.
“If we want true adoption of crypto payments and the massive entry of financial institutions, privacy becomes fundamental,” he states.
WalletConnect is working on this front primarily at the standards level, collaborating with foundations such as the Ethereum Foundation and other ecosystem players.
Stablecoin: Opportunity or Problem for the End User?
The boom of stablecoins is viewed with interest, but also with a certain degree of caution. On one hand, the ease of issuance allows more companies to enter this market, while on the other hand, it increases fragmentation.
“Users often do not directly benefit from the yields generated by stablecoins and find themselves managing assets scattered across multiple chains and issuers,” explains Houlgrave. Without better interoperability solutions and UX, this scenario risks hindering adoption rather than accelerating it.”
A Look at 2026
Looking to the future, WalletConnect identifies two macro-trends set to strengthen: the entry of institutions and the adoption of stablecoins as a means of payment. Payments could indeed serve as the gateway to Web3 for millions of new users who have never used a crypto wallet before.
“Many will start using stablecoins through their bank or neobank, without even realizing they are entering the crypto world,” concludes Houlgrave.