AWS Web3 Blog

Category: Architecture

Powering programmable crypto wallets at Coinbase with AWS Nitro Enclaves

A crypto wallet is a tool for managing cryptocurrencies, often built using a combination of software and hardware components. While developers prefer to offload infrastructure management to a trusted provider, this creates a new challenge. Giving full control to a third-party entity can introduce risks, such as service denial or the potential loss of funds if the provider is compromised. Coinbase Developer Platform (CDP) solved this challenge by building theWallet API, used to create and manage programmatic wallets. This post describes the Wallet API system architecture, threat models, and how Coinbase and AWS partnered to increase enclave throughput by a factor of 10.