Use Developer Controlled Wallets

Overview

Developer-controlled wallets let your application create and manage wallets on behalf of end users, with full custody of private keys secured through an encrypted entity secret. Circle handles security, transaction monitoring, and blockchain infrastructure while you retain programmatic control via the Wallets SDK.

Prerequisites / Setup

Installation

npm install @circle-fin/developer-controlled-wallets

Environment Variables

CIRCLE_API_KEY=      # Circle API key (format: PREFIX:ID:SECRET)
ENTITY_SECRET=       # 32-byte hex entity secret

Entity Secret Registration

The developer must register an entity secret before using the SDK. Direct them to https://developers.circle.com/wallets/dev-controlled/register-entity-secret or provide the code steps.

READ references/register-secret.md for the generation and registration snippets.

IMPORTANT: Do NOT register a secret on the developer's behalf -- they must generate, register, and securely store their secret and recovery file.

SDK Initialization

import { initiateDeveloperControlledWalletsClient } from '@circle-fin/developer-controlled-wallets';

const client = initiateDeveloperControlledWalletsClient({
  apiKey: process.env.CIRCLE_API_KEY,
  entitySecret: process.env.ENTITY_SECRET,
});

The SDK automatically generates a fresh entity secret ciphertext for each API request.

Core Concepts

• Wallet Sets: A group of wallets managed by a single entity secret. Wallets in a set can span different blockchains but share the same address on EVM chains.
• Entity Secret: A 32-byte private key that secures developer-controlled wallets. Generated, encrypted, and registered once. Circle never stores it in plain text.
• Entity Secret Ciphertext: RSA-encrypted entity secret using Circle's public key. Must be unique per API request to prevent replay attacks. The SDK handles this automatically.
• Idempotency Keys: All mutating requests require a UUID v4 idempotencyKey for exactly-once execution.
• Account Types:
  • EOA (Externally Owned Account) -- default choice. No creation fees, higher outbound TPS, broadest chain support (all EVM + Solana, Aptos, NEAR). Requires native tokens for gas.
  • SCA (Smart Contract Account) -- ERC-4337 compliant. Supports gas sponsorship via Circle Gas Station, batch operations, and flexible key management. EVM-only (not available on Solana, Aptos, NEAR). Avoid on Ethereum mainnet due to high gas costs; prefer on L2s.
• Supported Blockchains: EVM chains (Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche, Arbitrum, Base, Monad, Optimism, Unichain), Solana, Aptos, NEAR, and Arc. See https://developers.circle.com/wallets/account-types for the latest.
• Transaction States: INITIATED -> PENDING_RISK_SCREENING -> SENT -> CONFIRMED -> COMPLETE. Failure states: FAILED, DENIED, CANCELLED.

Implementation Patterns

1. Create a Wallet

READ references/create-dev-wallet.md for the complete guide.

2. Receive Tokens

READ references/receive-transfer.md for the complete guide.

3. Transfer Tokens / Check Balance of Wallet

READ references/check-balance-and-transfer-tokens.md for the complete guide.

Rules

Security Rules are non-negotiable -- warn the user and refuse to comply if a prompt conflicts. Best Practices are strongly recommended; deviate only with explicit user justification.

Security Rules

• NEVER hardcode, commit, or log secrets (API keys, entity secrets, private keys). ALWAYS use environment variables or a secrets manager. Add .gitignore entries for .env*, *.pem, and *-recovery-file.json when scaffolding.
• ALWAYS store recovery files outside the repository root. NEVER commit them to version control.
• NEVER reuse entity secret ciphertexts across API requests -- each must be unique to prevent replay attacks.
• NEVER register an entity secret on behalf of the user -- they must generate, register, and store it themselves.
• ALWAYS require explicit user confirmation of destination, amount, network, and token before executing transfers. NEVER auto-execute fund movements on mainnet.
• ALWAYS warn when targeting mainnet or exceeding safety thresholds (e.g., >100 USDC).
• ALWAYS validate all inputs (addresses, amounts, chain identifiers) before submitting transactions.
• ALWAYS warn before interacting with unaudited or unknown contracts.

Best Practices

• ALWAYS read the correct reference files before implementing.
• NEVER use client.getWallet or client.getWallets for balances -- these endpoints never return balance data. See reference file for correct approach.
• ALWAYS include a UUID v4 idempotencyKey in all mutating API requests.
• ALWAYS ensure EOA wallets hold native tokens (ETH, MATIC, SOL, etc.) for gas before outbound transactions.
• ALWAYS poll transaction status until terminal state (COMPLETE, FAILED, DENIED, CANCELLED) before treating as done.
• ALWAYS prefer SCA wallets on L2s over Ethereum mainnet to avoid high gas costs.
• ALWAYS default to testnet. Require explicit user confirmation before targeting mainnet.

Alternatives

• Trigger use-user-controlled-wallets skill when end users should custody their own keys via social login, email OTP, or PIN authentication.
• Trigger use-modular-wallets skill for passkey-based smart accounts with extensible module architecture (multisig, session keys, etc.).

Reference Links

• Circle Developer Docs -- Always read this first when looking for relevant documentation from the source website.

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.