Embedded Wallets SDK for Node.js
Overview
The MetaMask Embedded Wallets Node.js SDK (formerly Web3Auth Plug and Play) is a backend solution designed for server-side authentication and key management. This SDK enables seamless integration of Web3 authentication into backend applications, AI agents, and programmatic use cases.
Unlike frontend SDKs, the Node.js SDK is stateless and sessionless, making it ideal for:
- Backend AI agents
- Server-side wallet operations
- Programmatic blockchain interactions
- Custodial wallet services, without key management and recovery worries.
Key features
- Stateless architecture: No session management required
- Multi-chain support: Support for EVM chains, Solana, and other blockchains
- Custom authentication: Mandatory custom auth with single key share
- Private key access: Direct access to private keys for any blockchain
- Backend-optimized: Designed specifically for server environments
Requirements
- Node.js 18+
- Custom authentication setup (mandatory)
- Embedded Wallets dashboard project configuration
Prerequisites
- Registered on the Embedded Wallets dashboard
- Set up a custom Auth connection (mandatory for Node.js SDK)
See the dashboard setup guide to learn more.
Installation
Install the Web3Auth Node SDK
- npm
- Yarn
- pnpm
- Bun
npm install --save @web3auth/node-sdk
yarn add @web3auth/node-sdk
pnpm add @web3auth/node-sdk
bun add @web3auth/node-sdk
1. Custom authentication setup (required)
The Node.js SDK only supports custom authentication. You must create a custom auth connection:
- Go to the Embedded Wallets dashboard.
- Select your project.
- Navigate to Authentication → Custom connections.
- Click Create connections.
- Configure your auth connection with your custom JWT details.
You can refer to the Custom JWT Setup guide to learn more.
2. SDK configuration
Create a Web3Auth instance with your client ID, web3auth network name, and chain information:
const { Web3Auth } = require('@web3auth/node-sdk')
const web3auth = new Web3Auth({
clientId: 'YOUR_WEB3AUTH_CLIENT_ID', // Pass your Web3Auth Client ID, ideally using an environment variable // Get your Client ID from Embedded Wallets dashboard
web3AuthNetwork: 'sapphire_mainnet', // or 'sapphire_devnet'
})
The chain information is optional and will be used to setup the provider for connecting to the chain. If not provided, the first chain in the list will be used.
3. Initialize Embedded Wallets
Initialize the Web3Auth instance during your application startup:
await web3auth.init()
4. Authenticate users
Use the connect method with your custom authentication parameters:
const result = await web3auth.connect({
authConnectionId: 'YOUR_AUTH_CONNECTION_ID', // Your custom authentication connection name
idToken: 'USER_ID_TOKEN', // JWT token from your auth system
})
Configuration options
- Basic Configuration
- Advanced Configuration
const { Web3Auth } = require('@web3auth/node-sdk')
const web3auth = new Web3Auth({
clientId: 'YOUR_WEB3AUTH_CLIENT_ID', // Pass your Web3Auth Client ID, ideally using an environment variable
web3AuthNetwork: 'sapphire_mainnet', // or 'sapphire_devnet'
})
await web3auth.init()
const { Web3Auth } = require('@web3auth/node-sdk')
const web3auth = new Web3Auth({
clientId: 'YOUR_WEB3AUTH_CLIENT_ID', // Pass your Web3Auth Client ID, ideally using an environment variable
web3AuthNetwork: 'sapphire_mainnet', // or 'sapphire_devnet'
defaultChainId: '0x1', // or '0x89' for Polygon
enableLogging: true,
sessionTime: 3600,
})
await web3auth.init()
Configuration parameters
- Table
- Interface
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
clientId | string | Required | Your Web3Auth client ID |
web3AuthNetwork | string | Required | Network: 'sapphire_mainnet' or 'sapphire_devnet' |
defaultChainId | string | Optional | Chain ID to use for the default chain (for example,, '0x1' for Ethereum). If not provided, the first chain in the list will be used. |
chains | object | Optional | Chains to use for the authentication. It takes Chains as a value. |
enableLogging | boolean | Optional | Setting to true will enable logs. Default is false. |
usePnPKey | boolean | Optional | Setting to true will use the PnP key. Default is false. |
useDKG | boolean | Optional | Setting to true will use the DKG. Default is false. |
checkCommitment | boolean | Optional | Setting to true will check the commitment. Default is true. |
export interface Web3AuthOptions {
/**
* Client ID for Embedded Wallets/Web3Auth.
* You can obtain your client ID from the Embedded Wallets/web3auth developer dashboard.
* You can set any random string for this on localhost.
*/
clientId: string;
/**
* Web3Auth Network to use for login
* @defaultValue mainnet
*/
web3AuthNetwork?: WEB3AUTH_NETWORK_TYPE;
/**
* multiple chain configurations,
* only provided chains will be used
*/
chains?: CustomChainConfig[];
/**
* default chain ID to use
*/
defaultChainId?: string;
/**
* setting to true will enable logs
*
* @defaultValue false
*/
enableLogging?: boolean;
/**
* setting this to true returns the same key as web sdk (that is,, plug n play key)
* By default, this sdk returns SFAKey
*/
usePnPKey?: boolean;
/**
* set this to true when you wants keys/shares to be generated by a dkg network
*
* Default:- false for sapphire network and always true for legacy networks.
* Legacy networks doesnt support non dkg flow. So this is always true for legacy networks.
*/
useDKG?: boolean;
/**
* setting this to true will check the commitment of the shares
*
* @defaultValue true
*/
checkCommitment?: boolean;
}
Usage
const { Web3Auth } = require('@web3auth/node-sdk')
// Dashboard Registration
const clientId =
'BPi5PB_UiIZ-cPz1GtV5i1I2iOSOHuimiXBI0e-Oe_u6X3oVAbCiAZOTEBtTXw4tsluTITPqA8zMsfxIKMjiqNQ'
// Auth connection
const authConnectionId = 'w3a-node-demo'
const web3auth = new Web3Auth({
clientId,
web3AuthNetwork: 'sapphire_mainnet',
})
await web3auth.init()
const privateKey = await fs.readFile('privateKey.pem', 'utf8')
var idToken = jwt.sign(
{
sub: '9fcd68c4-af50-4dd7-adf6-abd12a13cb32',
name: 'Web3Auth DevRel Team',
email: 'devrel@web3auth.io',
aud: 'urn:api-web3auth-io', // -> to be used in custom authentication as JWT Field
iss: 'https://web3auth.io', // -> to be used in custom authentication as JWT Field
iat: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
exp: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) + 60 * 60,
},
privateKey,
{ algorithm: 'RS256', keyid: '2ma4enu1kdvw5bo9xsfpi3gcjzrt6q78yl0h' }
)
console.log('\x1b[33m%s\x1b[0m', 'JWT token:', idToken)
const result = await web3auth.connect({
authConnectionId,
idToken,
})