The Ethglobal London App is a free, open-source crypto wallet that turns an ordinary NFC tag into an abstracted account on the Base network. It is aimed at event organizers, hackathon teams and communities that want to pay for small everyday things with a tap instead of a QR code or a phone transaction.
The idea is simple: you attach a blank NFC tag to a card, sticker or wristband, and that tag becomes your account. At stations that are on an approved list, you tap the tag and the payment goes through. The program is built around this flow, so it suits closed environments where the same set of machines or doors is used repeatedly.
What Is the Ethglobal London App?
The Ethglobal London App is a Flutter-based application that connects physical NFC tags with an on-chain account. The account lives on Base, an Ethereum layer-2 network, which keeps transaction fees low compared with the Ethereum mainnet.
The project grew out of the ETHGlobal London hackathon, which is why its scope is focused on events and small-scale payments rather than general-purpose investing. Its source code is split across two Git repositories: one for the mobile app and one for the NFC web app used to read tags.
Who Is the App For?
The program suits three main groups. Event organizers can use it to run cashless payments for drinks, printing or workshops. Developers who want to study account abstraction and NFC-based wallets can read the open code and adapt it. Coworking spaces and makerspaces can use it to manage access and shared-resource billing.
It is less suited to someone who wants a full portfolio wallet for trading. The feature set is narrow by design, and the app is built around specific stations rather than open-ended transfers between arbitrary addresses.
How Account Abstraction Works Here
In a traditional wallet, a user controls funds with a private key and signs every transaction. Account abstraction replaces that model with a smart contract account that can have flexible rules. In this app, the smart account is created when it is first needed, so a tag does not cost anything until it is actually used.
The Card Manager contract deploys each card only the first time its withdrawal function is called. This lazy deployment reduces the cost of issuing many tags at once, for example for a conference with hundreds of attendees.
Why NFC Instead of QR Codes?
QR codes require a screen, good lighting and a steady hand. NFC tags work with a single tap and need no display. They also tend to feel more natural for repeated, low-value payments, such as buying a coffee or swiping into a room.
The trade-off is that NFC tags can be copied or lost, so an operator should treat them like keys. Losing a tag means losing access to its balance, which is why event organizers often keep balances small and reissue tags when needed.
Key features
Tap-based NFC accounts
Drink and vending payments
Meeting room booking
Workshop access
Print credits
Supported coins
The documentation mentions Ethereum (ETH), the Base network, ERC-20 tokens and USDC. Transactions run on Base, so the practical unit of payment is whatever token the venue has configured on that network.
How to install Ethglobal London App on Windows
- 1
Get the official build
Download the Windows build or installer only from the official project page or the GitHub repository at github.com/citizenwallet/ethglobal-london-app. Avoid mirror sites and file-sharing links.
- 2
Verify the file
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published in the GitHub Releases notes. If the release is signed, verify the signature as well. A mismatch means the file should not be run.
- 3
Run the installer
Open the installer and follow the on-screen prompts. Choose an install folder with enough free space and keep the default options unless you have a specific reason to change them.
- 4
Prepare an NFC reader
Make sure your Windows device has an NFC reader or a compatible USB NFC reader connected. Test it with a blank NFC tag before setting up any accounts.
-
Launch and create an account
Start the app, follow the prompts to link a tag, and confirm the account on Base. Keep a record of the tag and the venue it is configured for.
System requirements
- A Windows build or installer is available for the program
- An NFC reader or NFC-capable hardware is needed to link tags
How to use Ethglobal London App
Using the app is mostly about setting up tags and approved stations. The steps below cover the typical flow for an event or small venue.
- Open the app and sign in or create the account that will manage the venue.
- Hold a blank NFC tag to the reader and link it to a new account.
- Set the features the tag can use, such as drinks, rooms or print credits.
- Add a balance to the account in the supported token on Base.
- Configure the station with the approved whitelist so only the right machines accept the tag.
- Test a payment with a single tag before handing tags out to users.
- Keep a list of issued tags so you can deactivate any that are lost.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with code available on GitHub
- Designed for a simple tap-to-pay experience
- Lazy deployment keeps the cost of issuing many tags low
- Clear use cases for events, offices and shared spaces
- Built on Base, which keeps transaction fees low
- Narrow feature set, not a general-purpose wallet
- Depends on physical NFC tags that can be lost or copied
- Source code is split across two repositories, which can complicate setup
- Windows support is limited to a build or installer rather than a polished desktop product
- Requires hardware and whitelisted stations to be useful
Is Ethglobal London App safe?
Download the app only from the official GitHub repository or the project's Releases page, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running the file. Never enter a seed phrase or recovery information on a third-party website, and be wary of anyone who asks for it in a message or on a fake support page.
NFC tags are a physical security concern. Treat them like keys, avoid leaving high balances on a tag, and deactivate any tag that goes missing. Because the project's last code update was in May 2024, check the repository for recent activity before relying on it for anything important, and test thoroughly with small amounts first.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/citizenwallet/ethglobal-london-app. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Compared with general-purpose wallets such as Cake Wallet or BitPay Wallet, the Ethglobal London App takes a much narrower approach. Those tools focus on holding, sending and managing a range of assets from a phone, with seed phrases and standard addresses at the center of the experience.
The Ethglobal London App instead centers on a physical tag and a set of approved stations. It is closer in spirit to a membership card with a balance than to a wallet for trading. For readers who want a self-hosted, programmable alternative with account features, WAIaaS is another option, although it is aimed at developers and AI agents rather than event payments.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 15 May 2024
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/citizenwallet/ethglobal-london-app
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the app is free and open source. You can download it and read the code on GitHub. Costs come from the tokens you use on Base and from the NFC tags you buy, not from the software itself.
It can be used safely if you download only from the official GitHub repository, verify the file checksum, and never share recovery information. Keep balances small on NFC tags, since a lost tag can be used by whoever finds it.
The documentation mentions Ethereum, the Base network, ERC-20 tokens and USDC. Payments run on Base, so the token used at a station must be supported on that network.
Yes, the project provides a Windows build or installer. You will also need an NFC reader, either built into your device or connected by USB, to link and read tags.
An NFC tag is a small chip that responds to a nearby reader when tapped. The app uses it as a physical key to the account, so payments and access happen with a single tap instead of a screen or phone transaction.
Fees depend on the network and the operator's setup. Because the app runs on Base, fees are generally lower than on Ethereum mainnet, but check the current conditions before a large event.
The code is public on GitHub under the citizenwallet organization. Check the repository's commit history and issues to see how active the project currently is before depending on it.
Verdict
The Ethglobal London App is a focused tool for tap-to-pay at events, offices and shared spaces. It is free, open source and uses a practical NFC model. It is not a full wallet for trading or long-term holding. Event organizers and developers exploring account abstraction will get the most from it, provided they test carefully and keep balances and tags under control.