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
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.
1---2name: use-circle-wallets3description: 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.4---56## Overview78Circle 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.910## Quick Comparison1112| | Developer-Controlled | User-Controlled | Modular (Passkey) |13|-|---------------------|-----------------|-------------------|14| **Custody** | Developer | User | User |15| **Auth** | Entity secret (backend) | Social login / email OTP / PIN | Passkey (WebAuthn) |16| **Account types** | EOA, SCA | EOA, SCA | MSCA only |17| **Gas sponsorship** | SCA via Gas Station | SCA via Gas Station | Gas Station or third-party paymaster |18| **Custom modules** | No | No | Yes |19| **Architecture** | Backend SDK only | Backend + frontend SDKs | Frontend SDK only |2021## Decision Guide2223For the latest supported blockchains: https://developers.circle.com/wallets/account-types2425**Step 1 -- Who controls the keys?**26- Developer controls (no user approval) -> Developer-controlled wallets -> Step 327- End user controls -> Step 22829**Step 2 -- Auth method?**30- Passkey (WebAuthn biometric) with extensible modules -> Modular wallets -> Step 431- Social login, email OTP, or PIN -> User-controlled wallets -> Step 33233**Step 3 -- Account type?**34- Solana, Aptos, or NEAR -> EOA (only option)35- Ethereum mainnet -> EOA (SCA gas costs prohibitive, MSCA not supported)36- L2 (Arbitrum, Base, Polygon, Optimism, etc.) -> SCA if gas sponsorship or batching needed; EOA if max TPS needed3738**Step 4 -- Chain check (Modular wallets)**39- Supported: Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base, Monad, Optimism, Polygon, Unichain40- NOT supported: Ethereum, Solana, Aptos, NEAR. Fall back to user-controlled wallets with SCA.4142### Example Scenarios4344| Scenario | Decision | Skill |45|----------|----------|-------|46| Payment backend, programmatic payouts, high TPS | Developer-controlled + EOA | `use-developer-controlled-wallets` |47| Consumer app with Google/Apple login, gasless UX | User-controlled + SCA on L2 | `use-user-controlled-wallets` |48| DeFi app with biometric auth, custom modules | Modular on L2 | `use-modular-wallets` |49| NFT marketplace on Ethereum L1 | User-controlled + EOA | `use-user-controlled-wallets` |50| AI agent, autonomous multi-chain transactions | Developer-controlled + EOA | `use-developer-controlled-wallets` |5152## Implementation Patterns5354Once a wallet type has been determined, TRIGGER the corresponding skill:5556- Developer-controlled -> `use-developer-controlled-wallets` skill57- User-controlled -> `use-user-controlled-wallets` skill58- Modular (Passkey) -> `use-modular-wallets` skill 5960## Strict Rules6162- ALWAYS select the wallet type before starting implementation using the comparison table and decision guide above.63- ALWAYS use EOA on Ethereum mainnet (SCA gas prohibitive, MSCA not supported) and on Solana, Aptos, NEAR (SCA/MSCA not available).64- ALWAYS prefer SCA or MSCA on L2 chains (Arbitrum, Base, Polygon, Optimism, etc.) when gas sponsorship or batch operations are needed.65- NEVER mix wallet types in a single user flow -- pick one and use its corresponding skill.66- ALWAYS delegate to the specific wallet skill (`use-developer-controlled-wallets`, `use-user-controlled-wallets`, or `use-modular-wallets`) for implementation.6768## Reference Links6970- [Account Types](https://developers.circle.com/wallets/account-types)71- [Choosing Your Wallet Type](https://developers.circle.com/wallets/infrastructure-models)72- [Key Management](https://developers.circle.com/wallets/key-management)73- [Circle Developer Docs](https://developers.circle.com/llms.txt) -- **Always read this first** when looking for relevant documentation from the source website.7475---7677DISCLAIMER: This skill is provided "as is" without warranties, is subject to the [Circle Developer Terms](https://console.circle.com/legal/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](https://github.com/circlefin/skills/blob/master/README.md).
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