Smart Sessions
Smart sessions enable powerful UX improvements for web3 applications by allowing users to delegate specific permissions to session keys. This creates a more seamless user experience while maintaining security through granular controls.
Smart Sessions Explained
You can think of smart sessions as giving some signers/keys special granular access to your smart account. They can execute transactions on that account, but they can't execute any transaction - only the transactions they were explicitly approved to execute.
These fall into a few broad categories:
| Restriction Type | Description |
|---|---|
| How much they can execute | Set the maximum amount of transactions a key can execute. |
| When they can execute | Set time restrictions which prevent the signers from executing in any times beyond the ones approved by you. |
| How much funds they can use | Set restrictions on how much tokens the signer can use in total or in a single call. |
| Which contracts they can call | Set restrictions saying which exact contracts the signer is allowed to call. |
All of these permissions can be combined with eachother to create powerful guardrails for signers - primarily bots or AI agents.
Why Sessions Matter
Smart sessions solve several critical UX challenges in web3:
-
Reduced Transaction Friction: Instead of requiring users to sign every transaction, session keys can handle repeated actions automatically within defined parameters.
-
Enhanced Security: Rather than storing a user's primary wallet key in a browser, applications can use temporary session keys with limited permissions and expiration dates.
-
Granular Control: Users can grant very specific permissions to session keys, such as:
- Maximum transaction amounts
- Specific contract interactions
- Time-based restrictions
- Usage limits
- Parameter-based rules
Real World Examples
Smart sessions enable seamless experiences like:
- Gaming: Players can pre-authorize common in-game actions without constant signing
- DeFi: Trading apps can execute trades within user-defined limits
- NFT Markets: Marketplaces can list/delist items without repeated signatures
- Social Platforms: Apps can post content or interact with smart contracts seamlessly
Technical Benefits
- Gas Optimization: Session keys can batch multiple transactions and optimize gas usage
- Flexible Implementation: Supports various validation schemes (time-based, value-limited, etc.)
- Composable Security: Combine multiple policies to create sophisticated permission systems
- Standards Compliant: Built on established standards like ERC-7579 for maximum compatibility
User Experience Impact
- Reduced Cognitive Load: Users don't need to understand every transaction detail
- Familiar Web2 Feel: Actions feel instant and seamless like traditional web applications
- Maintained Security: Users retain full control through granular permissions
- Better Error Handling: Applications can handle failed transactions more gracefully
Smart sessions represent a crucial evolution in web3 UX, bridging the gap between blockchain security and seamless user experiences.