Use Circle Wallets

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-ControlledUser-ControlledModular (Passkey)CustodyDeveloperUserUserAuthEntity secret (backend)Social login / email OTP / PINPasskey (WebAuthn)Account typesEOA, SCAEOA, SCAMSCA onlyGas sponsorshipSCA via Gas StationSCA via Gas StationGas Station or third-party paymasterCustom modulesNoNoYesArchitectureBackend SDK onlyBackend + frontend SDKsFrontend 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#

ScenarioDecisionSkillPayment backend, programmatic payouts, high TPSDeveloper-controlled + EOAuse-developer-controlled-walletsConsumer app with Google/Apple login, gasless UXUser-controlled + SCA on L2use-user-controlled-walletsDeFi app with biometric auth, custom modulesModular on L2use-modular-walletsNFT marketplace on Ethereum L1User-controlled + EOAuse-user-controlled-walletsAI agent, autonomous multi-chain transactionsDeveloper-controlled + EOAuse-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#

• Account Types
• Choosing Your Wallet Type
• Key Management
• Circle Developer Docs -- Always read this first when looking for relevant documentation from the source website.

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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.