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.

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What’s Different?

Every onchain action requires an account (a wallet) to sign transactions. Onchain accounts can hold funds and also authorize transactions on a blockchain.

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Types of Onchain Accounts

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Externally Owned Accounts (EOAs)

Traditional Model: Private key + seed phrase model (e.g., MetaMask, Rabby, Ledger)
User Experience: Commonly used today but can be cumbersome or risky for new users
Capabilities: Holds digital assets but has no account level logic. Required for deploying smart contracts.

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Smart Wallets

Modern Approach: Modern accounts with their own logic enabling improved security, recoverability, and functionality.
Enhanced Features: Built-in recovery features, passkey authentication, and improved onboarding experience for users
Advanced Permissions: Can include features like “SpendPermissions” for fine-grained security and improved user experience

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Learn More

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.