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The login experience

When you sign in with Google, Apple, Facebook, or a passkey, you’re using zkLogin - a Sui technology that creates a blockchain identity from your existing account. No seed phrases. No private keys to manage. Your social login becomes your crypto identity.

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Zero-trust custody

This is the core innovation that makes Umi different. When you create your account, two “dWallets” are created using Ika’s Distributed Key Generation:
  1. Your half of the key is encrypted with your passcode
  2. The network’s half is held by Ika validators
To sign any transaction:
  • You provide your half (by entering your passcode)
  • The network provides its half
  • Together they produce a signature
  • Neither party ever sees the complete key
This means:
  • Umi can’t steal your funds - we never have the complete key
  • Ika can’t steal your funds - they only have half
  • You’re always in control - nothing happens without your passcode

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Multi-chain from one key

Your dWallets use standard cryptographic curves:
  • SECP256K1 - generates addresses for Ethereum, Bitcoin, Zcash, Tezos
  • ED25519 - generates addresses for Solana, Cardano, XRP
One account creation gives you addresses on every chain. The math is deterministic - your keys always produce the same addresses.

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Sui as the coordinator

Sui is the “brain” that coordinates everything:
  • Your account state lives on Sui
  • Transaction requests are coordinated through Sui
  • Cross-chain containers are Sui objects
  • Everything is indexed and verifiable
But Sui doesn’t control your keys. It’s the coordination layer, not the custody layer.

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Signing a transaction

When you send a transaction:
  1. You build the transaction (pick token, amount, destination)
  2. Enter your passcode to unlock your key share
  3. Umi coordinates with Ika to produce the signature
  4. The signed transaction is broadcast to the destination chain
From your perspective: enter passcode, confirm, done. Behind the scenes: zero-trust cryptography ensures you’re always in control.

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Gas accounts

Every blockchain requires gas fees in its native token. Normally you would need ETH for Ethereum, SOL for Solana, and so on. Umi solves this with gas accounts. How it works:
  1. Deposit any supported token into your gas account
  2. Your deposit is converted to a USD balance instantly
  3. When you transact on any chain, Umi pays the gas in the native token
  4. Your gas account balance is debited the USD equivalent
What you can deposit:
  • SUI or USDC directly on Sui
  • Any token from any supported chain via cross-chain swap
You never need to hold ETH, SOL, or any other gas token. Just keep your gas account funded and transact anywhere. Why this matters:
  • No more “I need gas to do anything” friction
  • One balance covers all chains
  • Deposit once, use everywhere
  • Real-time conversion at market rates
Your gas account balance and transaction history are visible in the Umi app. Deposit when low, and you are always ready to transact.

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The Umi Signer

Your dWallet capabilities are held in an on-chain container called a Umi Signer. This is a Sui object that:
  • Holds your signing capabilities for both key types
  • Enforces any policies you’ve set (spending limits, allowlists, etc.)
  • Provides a standard interface for signing requests
When you or a connected DApp wants to sign something, the request goes through your Umi Signer. Policies are checked, and if everything passes, the signature is produced.