EOA (Externally Owned Account)
Protocol
Account controlled by a private key; initiates transactions.
An EOA is a wallet account controlled by a private key. It can start transactions and pays gas directly. A contract account cannot start transactions by itself and only runs when called. Use strong device security and backups to protect EOAs.
Frequently asked questions
How is an EOA different from a contract account?
An EOA can start transactions and is controlled by a private key. A contract account runs code and cannot initiate transactions on its own.How do I secure an EOA?
Use a hardware wallet for large funds, keep backups offline, and never share your seed phrase.Can I migrate from EOA to a smart contract wallet?
Yes. You can deploy a contract wallet and move funds, or use account abstraction solutions when available.