Learn about onchain accounts, from traditional EOAs using private keys to modern Smart Wallets with passkeys, and how Base’s Smart Wallet SDK simplifies integration.
Onchain accounts, often called “wallets”, are the starting point for any onchain interaction. Unlike traditional accounts that store credentials in a database, onchain accounts authenticate and authorize transactions on the public network with credentials held by the user. The original onchain accounts (EOA’s) use private keys backed up by a sequence of 24 random words. Recently, with the introduction of modern accounts like Smart Wallet, the credentials are Passkeys which provide improved security and recoverability. This sub-section covers these two main wallet types, the differences in user experience and security, and how Base’s Smart Wallet SDK makes them easier to integrate.
Every onchain action requires an account (a wallet) to sign transactions. Onchain accounts can hold funds and also authorize transactions on a blockchain.
If you’d like a deeper dive on EOAs vs. smart wallets, check out our Smart Wallet docs and recommended reading on Account Abstraction. Base provides an SDK to help you integrate Smart Wallets easily.