Near Connect is a free, open-source wallet connector for the NEAR blockchain, written in JavaScript and TypeScript. It is built for developers who want their web apps to let users sign in and approve transactions with the wallet they already use, and for anyone curious about how wallet integration works behind the scenes.
The project aims to be lightweight, robust and secure, with wallet code that can be updated without rewriting the app around it. Its documentation mentions Windows alongside Android and iOS, but Windows compatibility should be treated as unconfirmed until you test it yourself. The latest release is v0.12.0, and the most recent code update is dated October 27, 2026.
What Is a Wallet Connector and Why Does It Matter?
A wallet connector sits between an app and a crypto wallet. When a website wants to read your account or ask you to approve a transaction, the wallet holds the keys and does the signing, while the connector carries the request back and forth. Without this layer, every app would have to build its own integration with every wallet, which is slow and error-prone.
That is why connectors matter for the whole ecosystem. They let wallet makers ship updates without forcing every app to change its code, and they let users keep the wallet they already trust. Near Connect is designed around that idea, with wallet code that is easier to update than hard-coded integrations.
For people outside development, the practical result is simple. A familiar wallet appears as an option when a NEAR app asks you to connect, and you approve or reject requests inside that wallet rather than handing anything to the app.
Who Is Near Connect For?
The most direct audience is developers building decentralized applications on the NEAR blockchain. A team making a trading interface, a game or a community dashboard needs users to connect a wallet, and a connector saves them from writing that logic from scratch.
Product managers and technical founders may also care, because one integration covering several wallets can widen the number of people who can use the app. Wallet maintainers can use the same approach to make their products reachable from apps without writing custom code for each one.
Hobbyists and students who want to learn how wallet connections work will find the code approachable if they already know JavaScript or TypeScript. Anyone expecting a plug-and-play desktop wallet for holding coins should look elsewhere, because this is a building block rather than a finished end-user product.
How Wallet Connection Works in Practice
Imagine a NEAR app that lets you swap tokens. You open the page, press a connect button, and the connector shows the wallets it supports. You pick one, the wallet opens or a pairing prompt appears, and you approve the link. From that point the app can request a signature, but the wallet displays the details and waits for your confirmation.
The same flow works on a phone and a computer when the wallet supports it, which is where WalletConnect helps. A pairing step lets a desktop browser talk to a mobile wallet without the wallet handing over its keys. Each request is a message you can read before approving it.
Understanding this sequence helps you spot problems. If a prompt asks for a seed phrase, or a signature request arrives that you did not start, reject it. A real connection request should be tied to an action you initiated.
Key features
Connection to Many NEAR Wallets
Ethereum Wallet Support
WalletConnect Reach
Command-Line Access Through NEAR CLI
Sandboxed, Lightweight Design
Supported coins
The documentation names Ethereum (ETH) as a supported network. On the wallet side, the connector covers the NEAR wallets listed above, Ethereum wallets, and any wallet reachable through WalletConnect. Because the connector focuses on routing and signing requests rather than holding balances, the exact assets you can use depend on the wallet you choose.
How to install Near Connect on Windows
- 1
Get the Official Package
Open the project's GitHub repository at github.com/azbang/near-connect and check the Releases page for the current version. Download only from the official website or that repository, and avoid mirrors or links shared in chats and forums.
- 2
Verify the Download
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the file with the value published alongside the release, or check the signature if one is provided. If the values do not match, delete the file and download it again from the official source.
- 3
Add the Connector to Your Project
Near Connect is a JavaScript and TypeScript library, so the usual route is adding it to a Node.js-based project and importing it. Follow the README in the repository for the exact commands, since they depend on the version you choose.
-
Test Before Going Live
Run the connector in a test environment, confirm that a wallet connects, and check that signing requests show the expected details. Only move to production after the connection, approval and rejection flows all behave as you intended.
How to use Near Connect
Near Connect is used inside a project rather than launched like a regular program. The steps below describe a typical developer workflow once the official package is in place.
- Add the package to your JavaScript or TypeScript project and import the connector in the file where your wallet button lives.
- Decide which wallets to offer. The named list includes Meteor Wallet, Intear Wallet, MyNearWallet, Nightly Wallet, Near Mobile Wallet and Unity Wallet, and WalletConnect can reach other compatible wallets.
- Choose the request format. The documentation recommends the near-api-js format over the older action format.
- Initialize the connector with your app details and render the wallet picker in your interface.
- Handle the connect event by storing the connected account and showing only its public address, never a seed phrase.
- Send a small test transaction on a test network first. Confirm that the wallet displays the correct details and that rejections are handled gracefully.
- After release, monitor errors across each wallet you support.
Repeat step 6 after every connector update, because changes between versions can affect how requests are formatted.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the source code publicly available on GitHub
- One integration covers several NEAR wallets, reducing custom code
- Adds Ethereum wallet support and WalletConnect reach
- Lightweight design with minimal dependencies
- Command-line option through NEAR CLI for scripts and testing
- Windows support is documented but has not been confirmed
- Aimed at developers, so it is not a standalone wallet for everyday users
- Setup requires familiarity with JavaScript or TypeScript
- Ethereum is the only network named in the documentation
- Version 0.12.0 is below 1.0, so interfaces may still change between releases
Is Near Connect safe?
Near Connect handles connections to wallets that control real funds, so treat every step with care. Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository at github.com/azbang/near-connect. Before you run or install a file, compare its SHA-256 checksum with the published value, or verify the release signature if one is provided. A mismatch means you should discard the file.
Never enter a seed phrase on a third-party website, in a chat message, or in a pop-up asking you to restore a wallet. Legitimate wallets sign requests on your device and do not need your recovery phrase to approve them. Read each signing request before confirming, and reject any you did not start.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/azbang/near-connect. 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
Near Connect differs from the programs in the related list mainly in purpose. Frame is a system-level Web3 wallet for desktop, while Near Connect is a connector that lets other apps talk to wallets. MyCrypto focuses on managing Ethereum accounts, which only partly overlaps with the Ethereum side of this connector. Cake Wallet and Stack Wallet are multi-currency wallet apps for everyday holding, whereas Near Connect is aimed at developers building NEAR integrations. Choose based on whether you need a wallet to use or a building block to integrate.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v0.12.0
- Last update
- 27 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Unverified (Windows mentioned in docs)
- Source code
- github.com/azbang/near-connect
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Near Connect is listed as free and open source, so there is no purchase step. Costs you may face come from the wallets you connect to or from the blockchain transactions you make, which are separate from the connector itself.
It can be, when you get it from the official website or the GitHub repository and verify the checksum or signature. Never enter a seed phrase into a website or prompt that asks for it. Read every signing request carefully and reject anything you did not start.
The project documentation mentions Windows alongside Android and iOS, but that support has not been confirmed. Test it in your own environment before depending on it. Most people will meet the connector through a web app or wallet rather than a standalone Windows program.
The named list includes Meteor Wallet, Intear Wallet, MyNearWallet, Nightly Wallet, Near Mobile Wallet and Unity Wallet. It also covers Ethereum wallets and any wallet reachable through WalletConnect. Check the documentation for the current status of each integration.
Yes. The documentation names Ethereum wallets among the supported options, and Ethereum (ETH) is the network mentioned there. The connector is built primarily around NEAR, so Ethereum support is an addition rather than the core focus.
Mostly, yes. Near Connect is a JavaScript and TypeScript library, so integrating it means writing or editing code. Regular users are more likely to meet it through an app that uses it, where they simply pick a wallet and approve requests.
A wallet stores keys and signs transactions, while a connector sits between an app and a wallet to start that conversation. Near Connect does not replace a wallet. It lets apps reach wallets such as MyNearWallet or Meteor Wallet.
Verdict
Near Connect suits developers who want a free, open-source, lightweight way to connect NEAR-focused apps to many wallets, with Ethereum and WalletConnect reach added. It is less useful for people looking for a standalone Windows wallet to hold coins. Before adopting it, test your setup and check the latest version on the official website, since the interface may change between releases.