What Is CIP-30?
Also known as: Cardano dApp-Wallet Web Bridge
In short
CIP-30 is the standard that defines communication between browser wallets and decentralized applications (dApps) on the Cardano network; it lets a dApp request a wallet connection, read balances and have transactions signed through a common JavaScript interface.
The standard's official name is the Cardano dApp-Wallet Web Bridge. A CIP-30-compatible browser extension wallet adds an interface under its own name to the web page, under the window.cardano object. The dApp first requests access permission with an enable() call; if the user approves, the application can read wallet information with methods such as getBalance, getUtxos and getUsedAddresses, request a transaction signature with signTx, and request that the transaction be submitted to the network with submitTx. Data is generally carried as hexadecimal text encoded in CBOR format.
Thanks to this common interface, a decentralized exchange or NFT marketplace can work with all wallets that support the standard without writing a separate integration for each wallet. The EIP-1193 provider interface in the Ethereum ecosystem plays a similar role.
The standard stipulates that private keys never leave the wallet; signing is always done inside the wallet and with the user's approval. Even so, users need to check the content of the transaction they sign, because a malicious dApp can ask for approval of misleading transactions.
Last updated: · This content is for information purposes only and is not investment advice.