What is ERC-7715? A Complete Guide to Wallet Permissions in Web3

ERC-7715 represents a significant advancement in blockchain user experience, addressing one of the most persistent challenges in Web3: transaction friction. This proposed Ethereum standard introduces a new JSON-RPC method called wallet_grantPermissions that allows decentralized applications (dApps) to request specific permissions from user wallets, rather than requiring approval for each individual transaction.

Traditional Web3 interactions require users to manually approve every single transaction. Whether you're playing a blockchain game, participating in DeFi protocols, or conducting multiple token transfers, each action interrupts your workflow with a wallet popup demanding approval. This creates several challenges:

Currently most dApps implement a flow where each interaction requires the user to sign a transaction with their wallet, which can get tedious for users to manually approve every transaction, especially in highly-interactive applications such as games. Additionally, it's impossible to execute transactions for users without an active wallet connection, invalidating use cases such as subscriptions, passive investments, and limit orders.

At its core, ERC-7715 introduces a new JSON-RPC method called wallet_grantPermissions. This method allows dApps to request specific permissions from a user's wallet, rather than asking for approval for each individual transaction.

The permission flow operates in four straightforward steps:

The standard defines several essential elements that work together to create a secure permission system:

ERC-7715 doesn't operate in isolation. This process integrates seamlessly with other emerging standards like ERC-4337 (Account Abstraction) and ERC-7679 (UserOp Builder), potentially enabling more advanced and user-friendly wallet interactions.

ERC-4337 is an Ethereum standard that achieves account abstraction on the protocol without any consensus-layer changes, making it possible to transact and create contracts in a single contract account. When combined with ERC-7715, users can enjoy enhanced wallet functionality while maintaining streamlined permission management.

The integration enables several powerful capabilities:

Blockchain gaming represents one of the most compelling use cases for ERC-7715. Players can start engaging with games or marketplaces without needing initial ETH, and developers can cover gas fees to attract more users. Instead of interrupting gameplay with constant transaction approvals, players can grant permissions for in-game purchases, asset transfers, or automated actions.

By maintaining a stable value, stablecoins facilitate easier trading and liquidity in DeFi platforms. They are often used as collateral in lending protocols, enhancing the overall efficiency of DeFi services. ERC-7715 can streamline these interactions by allowing users to grant permissions for specific DeFi operations like:

For platforms like Eco that focus on stablecoin integration, ERC-7715 offers particular advantages. Users can grant permissions for recurring stablecoin transfers, automated payment processing, or cross-chain stablecoin movements without constant manual intervention.

While ERC-7715 promises improved usability, it also raises important security considerations. The proposal emphasizes that wallets must clearly display requested permissions to users and enforce them strictly.

Clear Permission Display: Wallets implementing ERC-7715 must present permission requests in understandable language, clearly explaining what actions will be authorized and under what conditions.

Strict Enforcement: Wallets MUST correctly enforce permissions. Ultimately, users must trust that their wallet software is implemented correctly, and permissions should be considered a part of the wallet implementation.

Malicious dApp Protection: Malicious dApps could pose as legitimate applications and trick users into granting broad permissions. Wallets MUST clearly display the permissions to users and warn them against granting dangerous permissions.

The standard includes several mechanisms to limit potential security risks:

Compared with traditional application software, owing to blockchain's decentralized nature and its value, smart contracts are more prone to security vulnerabilities and malicious attacks, which also highlights the importance of smart contract vulnerability detection.

For ERC-7715 implementations, security considerations extend beyond the standard itself to encompass the entire smart contract ecosystem. On average, 10.2% of on-chain wallets on the Ethereum platform are vulnerable to different problems. This statistic underscores the importance of thorough security auditing for any wallet implementing ERC-7715 functionality.

The Ethereum development community has begun building tools to support ERC-7715 implementation. Viem, a popular TypeScript library, provides native support for the grantPermissions method, enabling developers to easily integrate ERC-7715 functionality into their applications.

MetaMask has developed a Delegation Toolkit that includes ERC-7715 support through specialized Snaps, providing users with advanced permission management capabilities. This early adoption by major wallet providers signals growing industry support for the standard.

As the demand for stablecoins continues to soar, protocols are likely to explore new collateral options, optimize governance models, and expand partnerships with other DeFi protocols to enhance utility and reach. ERC-7715 positions itself as a crucial enabler for this evolution, providing the infrastructure for seamless user interactions across complex DeFi ecosystems.

As blockchain interoperability continues advancing, ERC-7715's permission model could extend beyond Ethereum to support cross-chain operations. This would enable users to grant permissions that work across multiple blockchain networks, further reducing transaction friction in a multi-chain future.

The standard addresses fundamental user experience challenges that have limited mainstream Web3 adoption. By reducing the cognitive load of constant transaction approvals, ERC-7715 could play a significant role in bringing blockchain applications to broader audiences.

Developers implementing ERC-7715 should carefully consider which permissions to request. dApps should only request the permissions they need, with a reasonable expiration time. Overly broad permissions may reduce user trust and adoption.

Successfully implementing ERC-7715 requires educating users about the permission model. Clear documentation, tutorials, and user interfaces that explain the benefits and risks of granting permissions will be essential for adoption.

Not all wallets will immediately support ERC-7715. Developers should implement fallback mechanisms that gracefully handle unsupported wallets while encouraging users to upgrade to compatible solutions.

The permission model introduced by ERC-7715 mirrors familiar concepts from traditional software development. Similar to how mobile apps request permissions for camera access or location data, ERC-7715 allows blockchain applications to request specific capabilities with user oversight.

This familiar paradigm could significantly reduce the learning curve for new Web3 users while maintaining the security and transparency that blockchain technology provides.

ERC-7715 includes several protective mechanisms, including permission expiration, value limits, and revocation capabilities. However, users should always carefully review permission requests and only grant access to trusted applications.

Yes, the ERC-7715 standard includes a wallet_revokePermissions method that allows users to withdraw previously granted permissions at any time.

Do all wallets support ERC-7715?

Currently, ERC-7715 is still in draft status, and implementation varies by wallet provider. Major wallets like MetaMask are beginning to add support through their extension systems.

Hardware wallet compatibility will depend on individual manufacturers implementing support for the standard. The permission model may require updates to hardware wallet firmware and companion software.

The initial permission grant requires a transaction, but subsequent actions within granted permissions may be more gas-efficient since they don't require individual approvals. The overall gas impact will depend on specific use cases and implementation details.

ERC-7715 represents a crucial evolution in blockchain user experience, addressing transaction friction that has long hindered Web3 adoption. By enabling applications to request specific permissions rather than individual transaction approvals, the standard paves the way for more intuitive and efficient blockchain interactions.

For developers building on platforms focused on stablecoin integration and DeFi accessibility, ERC-7715 offers particular value. The standard's ability to streamline complex financial operations while maintaining security makes it an ideal foundation for next-generation Web3 applications.

As the standard continues development and wallet adoption grows, ERC-7715 could become a fundamental building block for user-friendly blockchain applications, helping bridge the gap between Web3's technical capabilities and mainstream usability expectations.

The success of ERC-7715 will ultimately depend on careful implementation, user education, and continued development of supporting infrastructure. However, its potential to transform blockchain user experience makes it a standard worth watching and implementing as the Web3 ecosystem matures.