Coinbase Wallet launches instant messaging feature

• Coinbase Wallet now supports instant messaging across any two Ethereum addresses.
• The feature will leverage the XMTP protocol and offer encrypted and private wallet-to-wallet communication and crypto payments.
• Coinbase is rolling out the feature to a small subset of users first before expanding it.

Coinbase has introduced a new feature that allows for instant messaging between two wallet addresses for users of Coinbase Wallet.

A blog post the company published on July 12 stated that the messaging capability will utilise a built-in system powered by Extensible Message Transport Protocol (XMTP). With this feature users can now tap into all-in-one messaging and payments, which includes gas-free USDC transfers on Polygon.

To send any of the crypto assets that Coinbase Wallet supports, users will simply need to start a chat.

Encrypted and private messaging

The wallet-to-wallet messaging will be fully encrypted, private and portable, Sid Coelho-Prabhu, Director of Product Management at Coinbase, wrote.

Wallet-to-wallet messaging is here. pic.twitter.com/vfM8RCdy65

— Coinbase Wallet 🛡️ (@CoinbaseWallet) July 12, 2023

Users can connect directly through their wallets, and will be able to take conversations and chat histories across other XMTP compatible apps. Coinbase Wallet is rolling out the messaging feature to a small group of users first, including those of Web3 social platform Lens protocol.

One needs access to the Coinbase Wallet mobile app to get started. They also need a .lens account, or should have an invitation sent via QR code. If one has used other XMTP apps, including Orb and Lenster, they will find all their chats in their Coinbase Wallet inbox.