Trust Wallet & WalletConnect - Accessing the Decentralized Web on your iPhone
Learn how to use WalletConnect with Trust Wallet to access decentralized applications (DApps) using your iPhone.
Today, the Internet is more centralized than it ever was. A handful of corporations control a big chunk of what happens online. Think of Facebook, Twitter, and Google. Because of the domination of just a few corporations, Internet users don’t get to enjoy all the benefits that the Internet has to offer.
Unsurprisingly, conversations have emerged around the reorganization of the Internet to what will be known as the decentralized web.
In this guide, we take a look at what the decentralized web is and how you can access it using Trust Wallet in combination with WalletConnect on your iPhone.
What is the Decentralized Web?
The decentralized web is an impressionistic concept sought by several advocates and researchers who are pushing for the reorganization of the Internet to remove centralized data hosting structure and replace it with peer-to-peer (P2P) infrastructure.
But, what exactly is the decentralized web?
According to Ryan Barrett, an engineer and web expert, there currently does not exist a clear and crisp definition of what a decentralized web is. However, that does not mean there is no close enough definition of what it is that most web experts agree on.
Cory Doctorow, a web expert and special consultant defines the decentralized web as:
“A Web designed to resist attempts to centralize its architecture, services, or protocols [so] that no individual, state, or corporation can substantially control its use.”
Simply put, the decentralized web is a world wide web that won’t be controlled by a few corporations or governments as is the current case today.
Today, when you search for something on a web browser such as Google, for instance, the browser exposes you to their ‘own’ content. For content creators, whatever content they publish is owned by the companies and platforms they publish their content on. As a result, creators tend to lose the rights over the work they create. This, in turn, results in them potentially losing money to the centralized platforms that host their work.
On a decentralized web, users will be able to have ownership over their personal data and online identity. There will be more control and empowerment for users, content creators, and publishers.
What is Wallet Connect?
WalletConnect is an open protocol that allows users to connect mobile crypto wallets, such as Trust Wallet, to decentralized application (DApps) websites using QR code scanning or deep linking.
Using WalletConnect, users can securely carry out transactions without divulging any personal information, making WalletConnect safer compared to browser extensions. WalletConnect does this via its Mobile Linking feature that allows DApps to interact with mobile wallet apps.
Although Android users using the Trust Wallet app can directly access DApps on mobile using the in-app DApp Browser, the case isn’t the same for iOS users.
Why? Because Apple recently required Trust Wallet to remove the DApp Browser on the iOS version of Trust Wallet because of Apple Store rules.
Fortunately, Trust Wallet users with iPhones can still access DApps. The only difference is that they need to use WalletConnect instead of the in-app DApp Browser to connect to the decentralized web.
How to Access the Decentralized Web with Wallet Connect and Trust Wallet on your iPhone
Although Trust Wallet users using an iPhone smartphone don’t have an in-app DApp browser, they can still be able to access the decentralized web using WalletConnect.
Below, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to access the decentralized web with WalletConnect and Trust Wallet on your iPhone.
To do this, we will use PancakeSwap as an example to make a trade. But before we get into the step-by-step guide, what exactly is PancakeSwap?
PancakeSwap is a decentralized platform that allows users to trade, earn and win cryptocurrencies. Additionally, PancakeSwap is a good example as it’s one of the decentralized platforms that’s accessible on Safari — a web browser primarily made to run on Apple devices.
To begin with, you will need your Trust Wallet app as well as another device that you will use to access the PancakeSwap website. While you can use a mobile device, a desktop browser is preferable. However, you can still use WalletConnect Mobile Linking on your mobile device to access a DApp.
Step 1: Access the Website
Open your browser on your phone and go to https://pancakeswap.finance. You will be taken to the official website of PancakeSwap. Remember to always visit the official websites of your DApps only.
Step 2: Connect Trust Wallet
The next step is to click on ‘Connect Wallet’ at the top right-hand corner of your browser and then proceed to choose the ‘WalletConnect’ option.
Wallet options will be shown on your screen after clicking on WalletConnect, click on Trust Wallet as shown below
Step 3: Click on the Wallet Connect
Click to link your wallet to the DApp. The PancakeSwap site will show you are connected via browser. This means that you are now connected and ready to transact.
Step 4: Make a Transaction
You can now proceed and create a transaction by, for example, exchanging BNB to TWT tokens. Tap on ‘Trade’ on the left-hand pane and then choose ‘Exchange’. You can also choose to search and import TWT tokens if they don’t appear on your list. Then, proceed to indicate the number of tokens that you wish to get and click on ‘Swap’.
Step 5: Approve the Transaction
To proceed with the exchange, you will need to approve the transaction. Your Trust Wallet app will automatically register the confirmation request and provide a detailed breakdown of the exchange. To approve the transaction, tap on ‘Confirm’.
Your transaction will automatically be submitted to the Binance Smart Chain network and once approved on the blockchain network, you will receive the tokens in your Trust Wallet. You can then proceed to confirm that the tokens received are what you exchanged.
Remember, Trust Wallet will keep your session active so that you don’t have to reconnect. However, when starting a new session, you will have to restart the app and refresh your browser.
Access the Decentralized Web with Trust Wallet
As the decentralized web begins to take shape, Trust Wallet allows both iPhone and Android users to access DApp browsers via WalletConnect.
What’s more, Trust Wallet allows anyone with a smartphone to securely access decentralized applications while providing secure storage for 160,000+ digital currencies and tokens across 12+ blockchains.