Passkey Authentication
Create wallets secured by biometrics (Face ID, Touch ID) or hardware security keys. No seed phrase to lose, no password to remember—your device IS the key.
What Are Passkeys?
Passkeys are a modern authentication standard (WebAuthn/FIDO2) that replaces passwords with cryptographic keys stored in your device's secure hardware.
Traditional Wallet
- • 24-word seed phrase
- • Written on paper (losable)
- • Can be photographed/stolen
- • Phishing attacks possible
Passkey Wallet
- • Keys in secure enclave
- • Biometric protection
- • Can't be phished
- • Nothing to write down
How It Works
1. Wallet Creation
When you create a passkey wallet, your device generates a cryptographic keypair in its secure element (Secure Enclave on Apple, TPM on Windows/Android).
2. Key Storage
The private key never leaves the secure hardware. It's protected by your biometric (fingerprint/face) or device PIN. Even malware can't extract it.
3. Authentication
To access your wallet or sign transactions, you authenticate with biometrics. The secure element signs the request without exposing the key.
Security Benefits
Phishing-Proof
Passkeys are bound to the website origin. Can't be tricked into signing for wrong site.
No Seed Phrase
Nothing to write down, photograph, or lose in a house fire.
Hardware-Backed
Private keys stored in tamper-resistant secure element.
Biometric Lock
Requires your fingerprint or face to use—physical presence required.
Key Derivation
SHADE uses the standard Solana BIP-44 derivation path for passkey wallets:
m/44'/501'/0'/0'
│ │ │ └── Address index
│ │ └───── Change (external)
│ └──────── Account
└─────────── Solana coin type (501)You can derive multiple addresses from a single passkey for different purposes.
Device Compatibility
| Platform | Support |
|---|---|
| macOS (Safari, Chrome) | Touch ID, Face ID |
| iOS (Safari) | Face ID, Touch ID |
| Windows (Chrome, Edge) | Windows Hello, Security Keys |
| Android (Chrome) | Fingerprint, Face Unlock |
| Linux (Chrome) | Security Keys (YubiKey, etc.) |
Important Note
Passkey wallets are device-bound. If you lose your device without a backup, you lose access to the wallet. Consider using passkeys for smaller amounts or alongside traditional recovery options.