Fundamental Differences
Privacy Model
Web3: Public by Default
On Ethereum, your wallet:- Has a public address anyone can see
- Shows balance to anyone who queries
- All transactions visible on block explorers
- Transaction patterns analyzable
Canton: Private by Default
On Canton, your wallet:- Has a party identifier visible only to you
- Balance visible only to you (and entitled parties)
- Transactions visible only to participants
- No public transaction history
Transfer Capabilities
Canton wallets support transfer patterns not possible in traditional wallets.Multi-Step Transfers
Traditional transfer: Send X now. Canton supports complex workflows:Pre-Approvals
Allow another party to withdraw up to a certain amount: Use cases:- Subscription payments
- Recurring transfers
- Automated application flows
Allocations
Reserve tokens for a specific purpose: Use cases:- Trade settlement
- Escrow arrangements
- Multi-step workflows
Delivery vs. Payment (DvP)
Atomic exchange of different assets: Why this matters:- No settlement risk
- No trust required between parties
- Complex exchanges in single transaction
Connection Model
Web3: Any RPC
Web3 wallets connect to any compatible RPC endpoint:- Infura, Alchemy, or self-hosted
- Can switch providers freely
- Any node can answer queries
Canton: Your Validator
Canton wallets connect to a specific validator:- The validator hosting your party
- Can’t freely switch (party is hosted somewhere specific)
- Only your validator has your data
Identity Model
Web3: Address-Based
- Address derived from public key
- Anyone can generate addresses
- Pseudonymous (address is identity)
Canton: Party-Based
- Party identifier tied to validator hosting
- Party creation involves validator
- Not pseudonymous in the same way
For local parties (where the validator holds the keys), the validator signs on behalf of the party. For external parties, keys are held externally and require explicit signing.
Explorer Differences
Web3: Global Explorer
Block explorers show all network activity:- Any transaction
- Any address balance
- Any contract state
Canton: Personal Explorer
Canton explorers show your activity:- Your transactions only
- Your balances
- Your contracts
There’s no equivalent of Etherscan showing all network transactions. This is by design—privacy is fundamental.
Implications for Users
Implications for Developers
Next Steps
Wallet for Developers
Integrate wallet functionality into your app.
Token Standard
Understand the Canton Token Standard.