Wallets Overview - moonkey docs

MoonKey provides wallet infrastructure that empowers users to transact on Ethereum, Solana, and all EVM- and SVM-compatible blockchains. Create self-custodial embedded wallets for your users that are directly integrated into your application—no browser extensions or separate wallet apps required. These embedded wallets can be automatically created during user authentication or manually created when needed, giving you complete flexibility in how you onboard users to web3. Users maintain full custody of their wallets without needing to manage seed phrases or private keys, though they can export their keys at any time for maximum portability.

MoonKey embedded wallets use distributed key sharding to ensure only the rightful owner can control their wallet or access its keys. Neither MoonKey nor your application ever sees the user’s complete private key.

Embedded wallets

MoonKey’s embedded wallet system lets you build self-custodial wallets directly into your app. Users get a seamless blockchain experience without the technical complexity of traditional wallet management.

How it works

When a user authenticates with your app, MoonKey can automatically create an embedded wallet for them based on your configuration. The wallet’s private key is securely sharded across multiple locations using distributed key management, ensuring that:

Users maintain full custody - Only the user can access their complete private key
No seed phrase management - Users don’t need to write down or remember recovery phrases
Seamless experience - Wallets work instantly without any setup
Maximum portability - Users can export their private key at any time

Key features

Multi-chain Support

Create and manage wallets on Ethereum, Solana, and all EVM/SVM-compatible chains including Base, Polygon, Arbitrum, and more.

Self-custodial

Users have complete control over their wallets. Private keys are securely sharded and only reconstituted for signing operations.

Automatic Creation

Configure wallets to be created automatically when users log in, or create them manually when needed.

Easy Transactions

Simple APIs for sending transactions, signing messages, and interacting with smart contracts.

Export Keys

Users can export their private keys to use their wallet in other applications like MetaMask or Phantom.

UI Components

Pre-built UI components for signing, transactions, and key export with full customization options.

User wallets

MoonKey specializes in creating self-custodial embedded wallets for your users. This means users have a blockchain wallet experience that feels native to your application.

Benefits for users

No technical complexity

No seed phrases to write down or store
No browser extensions to install
No separate apps to download
Seamless authentication and wallet access

Full ownership

Complete control over their assets
Ability to export private keys
Freedom to move to other wallets
Self-custodial by default

Instant onboarding

Wallets created in seconds
No blockchain knowledge required
Start transacting immediately
Familiar login methods (email, OAuth)

Benefits for developers

Simple integration

Easy-to-use React SDK
Pre-built UI components
Comprehensive REST API
TypeScript support

Flexible configuration

Automatic or manual wallet creation
Customizable UI components
Multiple authentication methods
Support for multiple chains

Production ready

Secure key management
High uptime and reliability
Transaction broadcasting
Error handling

Wallet creation

MoonKey offers two approaches to wallet creation:

Automatic wallet creation

Configure MoonKey to automatically create wallets when users authenticate:

import { MoonKeyProvider } from '@moon-key/react-auth';

<MoonKeyProvider
  publishableKey="your_publishable_key"
  config={{
    embeddedWallets: {
      createOnLogin: 'always' // Automatically create wallet for every user
    }
  }}
>
  {children}
</MoonKeyProvider>

When to use:

Your app requires all users to have a wallet
You want the simplest onboarding experience
Users will interact with blockchain features immediately

Learn more about automatic wallet creation.

Manual wallet creation

Create wallets programmatically when needed:

import { useCreateWallet } from '@moon-key/react-auth/ethereum';

function CreateWalletButton() {
  const { createWallet } = useCreateWallet();
  
  const handleCreate = async () => {
    const wallet = await createWallet();
    console.log('Wallet created:', wallet.address);
  };
  
  return <button onClick={handleCreate}>Create Wallet</button>;
}

When to use:

Not all users need a wallet
Users opt-in to blockchain features
You want to delay wallet creation for UX reasons

Multi-chain support

MoonKey wallets work across multiple blockchain ecosystems:

Ethereum and EVM chains

Create wallets compatible with:

Ethereum - Mainnet and testnets
Layer 2s - Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon
Sidechains - Polygon, Gnosis Chain, and more
Custom EVMs - Any EVM-compatible network

import { MoonKeyProvider } from '@moon-key/react-auth';
import { base, polygon, arbitrum } from 'viem/chains';

<MoonKeyProvider
  publishableKey="your_publishable_key"
  config={{
    supportedChains: [base, polygon, arbitrum]
  }}
>
  {children}
</MoonKeyProvider>

Solana and SVM chains

Create wallets compatible with:

Solana - Mainnet, Devnet, Testnet
Custom SVM - SVM-compatible networks

import { MoonKeyProvider } from '@moon-key/react-auth';

<MoonKeyProvider
  publishableKey="your_publishable_key"
  config={{
    solana: {
      rpcs: {
        'solana:mainnet': {
          rpc: 'https://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com',
          rpcSubscriptions: 'wss://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com'
        }
      }
    }
  }}
>
  {children}
</MoonKeyProvider>

Learn more about configuring networks.

Wallet operations

MoonKey provides simple APIs for common wallet operations:

Sign messages

Sign arbitrary messages for authentication or verification:

import { useSignMessage } from '@moon-key/react-auth/ethereum';

const { signMessage } = useSignMessage();

const result = await signMessage({
  message: 'Welcome to MyApp!',
  wallet: user.wallet
});

Sign transactions

Sign transactions without broadcasting them:

import { useSignTransaction } from '@moon-key/react-auth/ethereum';

const { signTransaction } = useSignTransaction();

const result = await signTransaction({
  transaction: {
    to: '0xRecipient...',
    value: '0x38d7ea4c68000'
  },
  wallet: user.wallet
});

Send transactions

Sign and broadcast transactions in one step:

import { useSendTransaction } from '@moon-key/react-auth/ethereum';

const { sendTransaction } = useSendTransaction();

const result = await sendTransaction({
  transaction: {
    to: '0xRecipient...',
    value: '0x38d7ea4c68000'
  },
  wallet: user.wallet
});

console.log('Transaction hash:', result.transactionHash);

Export private key

Allow users to export their private key:

import { useExportPrivateKey } from '@moon-key/react-auth/ethereum';

const { exportPrivateKey } = useExportPrivateKey();

await exportPrivateKey({
  wallet: user.wallet,
  uiConfig: {
    title: 'Export Private Key',
    privateKeyDescription: 'Your private key provides full access to your wallet'
  }
});

Learn more about wallet operations.

UI components

MoonKey provides pre-built UI components for all wallet operations:

Sign Message

Message signing interface

Sign Transaction

Transaction signing UI

Send Transaction

Transaction sending interface

Export Key

Private key export UI

All UI components are fully customizable to match your brand. Learn more about UI components.

Headless wallet operations

For complete control over your UI, use MoonKey’s headless wallet operations. Build custom interfaces while MoonKey handles the security and blockchain complexity. Learn more about whitelabel wallet operations.

Security and custody

MoonKey wallets are designed with security as the top priority:

Distributed key sharding

Private keys are split into multiple shards that are distributed across different secure locations. The complete key is only reconstituted in a secure environment when needed for signing operations. Benefits:

No single point of failure
Neither MoonKey nor your app sees complete keys
Users maintain full custody
Resistant to common attack vectors

User control

Users have complete control over their wallets:

Self-custodial - Users own their keys, not MoonKey or your app
Exportable - Users can export private keys at any time
Portable - Use exported keys in any compatible wallet
No lock-in - Users can leave your platform with their assets

Secure operations

All wallet operations follow security best practices:

Transaction signing - Performed in secure environments
Key storage - Encrypted and sharded across locations
API authentication - Secure session tokens and API keys
User confirmation - Clear UI for approving operations

Common use cases

Gaming

Create wallets for gamers to own in-game assets:

Automatically create wallets on signup
Seamless NFT minting and trading
In-game token transactions
Cross-game asset portability

DeFi applications

Enable users to interact with DeFi protocols:

Swap tokens
Provide liquidity
Stake assets
Yield farming

NFT marketplaces

Let users buy, sell, and trade NFTs:

Mint NFTs directly in your app
List items for sale
Make offers and bids
Transfer NFTs between wallets

Add blockchain features to social apps:

Token-gated communities
Reward systems
Tipping and micropayments
Proof of ownership

E-commerce

Accept crypto payments seamlessly:

Checkout with crypto
Issue refunds
Loyalty tokens
Gift cards and vouchers

REST API

For server-side wallet management, MoonKey provides a comprehensive REST API:

# Create a wallet
curl -X POST https://api.moonkey.fun/v1/wallets/create \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_test_YOUR_SECRET_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "wallet_type": "ethereum",
    "user_id": "user_123"
  }'

Learn more about the REST API.

Comparison with external wallets

Feature	MoonKey Embedded Wallets	External Wallets (MetaMask, Phantom)
Setup	Automatic, no installation	Requires browser extension or app
User experience	Seamless, built into your app	Separate popup/app
Custody	Self-custodial by user	Self-custodial by user
Seed phrases	Optional (can export key)	Required for user to manage
Onboarding	Instant, with email/OAuth	Must have wallet already
UX control	Full control over UI	Limited customization
Cross-device	Works anywhere user logs in	Requires extension on each device

You can support both embedded and external wallets in the same app. Let users choose their preferred wallet experience.

Best practices

Choose the right creation strategy

Use automatic creation for apps where all users need wallets
Use manual creation for apps with optional blockchain features
Consider user onboarding flow and experience

Communicate wallet ownership

Clearly explain that users own their wallets
Show how to export private keys
Explain what self-custodial means
Provide wallet security education

Handle errors gracefully

Show clear error messages for failed transactions
Explain insufficient balance errors
Guide users on how to fund wallets
Provide transaction status updates

Test on testnets first

Use Sepolia (Ethereum) or Devnet (Solana) for development
Test all transaction flows thoroughly
Verify gas estimation and fees
Check error handling scenarios

Optimize for mobile

Test wallet operations on mobile devices
Ensure UI is responsive
Consider mobile network speeds
Provide mobile-friendly interfaces

Get started

Installation

Install the MoonKey React SDK

Setup

Configure MoonKey in your app

Quickstart

Build your first wallet integration

Automatic Wallet Creation

Configure automatic wallet creation

UI Components

Use pre-built wallet UI components

REST API

Manage wallets from your backend

Next steps

Configure Networks

Set up custom networks and RPC providers

Wallet Operations

Learn about signing and transactions

Headless Wallets

Build custom wallet UIs

Security Best Practices

Secure your wallet integration

Embedded wallets

Using wallets

UI components

Funding

​Embedded wallets

​How it works

​Key features

Multi-chain Support

Self-custodial

Automatic Creation

Easy Transactions

Export Keys

UI Components

​User wallets

​Benefits for users

​Benefits for developers

​Wallet creation

​Automatic wallet creation

​Manual wallet creation

​Multi-chain support

​Ethereum and EVM chains

​Solana and SVM chains

​Wallet operations

​Sign messages

​Sign transactions

​Send transactions

​Export private key

​UI components

Sign Message

Sign Transaction

Send Transaction

Export Key

​Headless wallet operations

​Security and custody

​Distributed key sharding

​User control

​Secure operations

​Common use cases

​Gaming

​DeFi applications

​NFT marketplaces

​Social applications

​E-commerce

​REST API

​Comparison with external wallets

​Best practices

​Get started

Installation

Setup

Quickstart

Automatic Wallet Creation

UI Components

REST API

​Next steps

Configure Networks

Wallet Operations

Headless Wallets

Security Best Practices

Embedded wallets

How it works

Key features

User wallets

Benefits for users

Benefits for developers

Wallet creation

Automatic wallet creation

Manual wallet creation

Multi-chain support

Ethereum and EVM chains

Solana and SVM chains

Wallet operations

Sign messages

Sign transactions

Send transactions

Export private key

UI components

Headless wallet operations

Security and custody

Distributed key sharding

User control

Secure operations

Common use cases

Gaming

DeFi applications

NFT marketplaces

Social applications

E-commerce

REST API

Comparison with external wallets

Best practices

Get started

Next steps