Reviewed by Dr. Dmytro Nasyrov, Founder and CTO
Crypto Wallet Development
Custom crypto wallet solutions for institutions and consumers.
- 30+ blockchain projects
- 7+ years in Web3
- 90+ Clutch reviews
Aligned with these frameworks. Audit reports and certifications available on request.
Reviewed by Dmytro Nasyrov
Founder and CTO
23+ years in custom software development. Led 70+ projects across FinTech, healthcare, Web3 and enterprise. aligned with ISO 27001 team.
What is crypto wallet development?
Authoritative citations 12 sources
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Ethereum Yellow Paper
The Ethereum Yellow Paper by Gavin Wood is the canonical formal specification of the EVM, gas accounting and state transition function, referenced by every serious smart contract implementation including the clients Pharos uses for mainnet integrations.
ethereum.github.io
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EIP-1559 Specification
EIP-1559 redefined Ethereum gas pricing with a base fee plus priority tip model, changing how wallets, dApps and L2 gas estimation libraries compute transaction cost, which we apply directly in every wallet we ship.
eips.ethereum.org
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Consensys Smart Contract Best Practices
Consensys maintains the industry-reference smart contract security guide covering reentrancy, integer overflow, front-running, oracle manipulation and upgrade patterns, which we use as a code review checklist on every Solidity audit.
consensys.github.io
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OpenZeppelin Contracts
OpenZeppelin Contracts is the most widely audited open-source Solidity library for tokens, access control, upgrades and governance patterns, and is the default foundation for every Pharos smart contract engagement unless the client has compelling audit evidence for a custom base.
docs.openzeppelin.com
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Chainalysis Crypto Crime Report
The Chainalysis annual crypto crime report quantifies illicit on-chain activity across ransomware, sanctions evasion, DeFi exploits and stolen funds, and we use the underlying methodology to calibrate AML screening thresholds in wallet and exchange integrations.
chainalysis.com
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Trail of Bits Smart Contract Audits
Trail of Bits public smart contract audit reports document real-world findings across DeFi protocols, DAOs and NFT infrastructure, and we read every published report to extend our own internal audit checklist with emerging attack patterns.
github.com
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EEA Enterprise Ethereum Specification
The Enterprise Ethereum Alliance specification defines permissioned network, privacy and performance requirements that inform our architecture for enterprise chain engagements running variants of Besu, Quorum and Hyperledger Besu.
entethalliance.org
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Solidity Documentation
The Solidity language documentation is the authoritative source for syntax, compiler behaviour, gas costs and breaking changes across versions, which we track carefully because upgrade cycles from 0.8.x to 0.9.x affect every contract in production.
docs.soliditylang.org
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L2Beat
L2Beat tracks total value locked, security assumptions and maturity of Ethereum layer-2 networks, which we consult when recommending between Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, zkSync and Starknet for client dApps based on throughput and trust requirements.
l2beat.com
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DeFi Pulse
DeFi Pulse publishes total value locked and protocol-level metrics across lending, DEX, derivatives and yield protocols, useful for benchmarking liquidity assumptions when designing DeFi integrations that depend on oracle prices or pool depth.
defipulse.com
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Hardhat Documentation
Hardhat is the de-facto Ethereum development environment with built-in console, mainnet forking and plugin ecosystem, and is the base harness we use to ship every Solidity project with deterministic tests and gas snapshots.
hardhat.org
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NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography
NIST is finalizing post-quantum cryptographic standards including CRYSTALS-Kyber and Dilithium that will eventually replace current ECDSA signatures, and we monitor the migration timeline closely for clients running long-lived on-chain assets.
csrc.nist.gov
- Wallet products without legal counsel on licensing (money transmitter, e-money, VASP)
- Seed phrase-only consumer wallets without a recovery strategy (users will lose funds)
- Custom signing code without an audited cryptography library as the base
- Wallet products without jurisdictional analysis for fiat on-ramp integration
Crypto wallet development at Pharos Production at a glance
- Wallets shipped: 8+ production crypto wallets since 2019 (mobile, browser extension, MPC institutional, embedded AA)
- Custody models: Non-custodial, custodial (with licensed partners), MPC (2-of-3 threshold), account abstraction smart contract wallets
- Stack: Swift/Kotlin mobile, React Native, TypeScript, Rust, libsecp256k1, noble-crypto, tss-lib, Fireblocks SDK, ERC-4337 bundlers
- Chains: Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, BSC, Avalanche, Solana, TON, Cosmos
- Pricing: Wallet MVP $80,000-$180,000; full product $180,000-$500,000+; retainers from $10,000/month
- Timeline: Discovery + threat model 3-5 weeks; MVP 10-16 weeks; production with external audit 5-9 months
- Security: Audited cryptography libraries only (no custom signing), Secure Enclave/Keystore integration, external audit, responsible disclosure program
- Honest scope: We recommend WalletConnect for most dApps and decline seed-phrase-only consumer wallets
Custom wallet vs embedded wallet (Privy, Dynamic, Web3Auth): which is better?
Custom wallets give you branded UX, proprietary features and full control over the key architecture, while embedded wallet providers (Privy, Dynamic, Web3Auth, Magic) ship in days with social login, account abstraction and managed infrastructure. According to 2024 Web3 onboarding research, embedded wallets reduce first-transaction drop-off by 4-8x compared to self-managed wallets for non-crypto-native users.
| Factor | Custom wallet build | Embedded wallet (Privy / Dynamic) |
|---|---|---|
| Branded UX | Full control over every screen, flow and interaction | Branded shell over provider UI; limited customization |
| Time to launch | 10-16 weeks for production MVP + external audit | 1-2 weeks for basic integration |
| Features | Any feature you can engineer (multi-sig, spending limits, session keys) | Limited to provider feature set; custom features not supported |
| Cost (year 1) | $80,000-$500,000+ build + audit + infrastructure | $0-$2,500/month + per-user fees |
| Security | Your responsibility; external audit required | Provider security; typically SOC 2 + audited |
| Custody model | Full choice: non-custodial, MPC, custodial | Provider-defined; usually MPC-based non-custodial |
| Lock-in | None; you own the code | Provider lock-in on keys, users and data |
| Best fit | Branded wallets, institutional custody, differentiated features | dApps needing onboarding, Web3 products for non-crypto users |
Our wallet security and UX process
Crypto wallet projects follow Pharos Verified Delivery with wallet-specific gates: discovery includes threat modeling, custody model decision (custodial, non-custodial, MPC) and recovery design; build includes audited crypto libraries (no custom signing), secure enclave integration and transaction safety checks; production readiness covers external security audit plus a responsible disclosure program; support includes monitoring, crypto event response and OTA update infrastructure.
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Phase 01 / 04 Paid Discovery
2-4 weeks- Technical validation
- Architecture proposal
- Scope refined estimate
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Phase 02 / 04 Iterative Build
2-week sprints- Working demos every sprint
- CTO review at milestones
- ADRs documented
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Phase 03 / 04 Production Readiness
- Monitoring and alerting
- Security audit Pen test
- Runbooks and rollback
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Phase 04 / 04 Support
Ongoing- Security patches
- Performance tuning
- 4h SLA response
Pharos Verified Delivery applied to 70+ production applications since 2013
Wallets in production
Three wallet engagements covering custody models, multi-chain and account abstraction. All cryptography uses audited libraries.
Single-chain wallet supporting only Ethereum. Custom bridge integrations took 8-12 weeks each. Users left for multi-chain alternatives.
Unified backend supporting 7+ EVM chains plus Solana. New chain integration in 1-2 weeks via abstraction layer. Wallet retention up 38%.
The chain abstraction layer normalizes RPC calls, fee estimation, nonce handling and transaction signing. New chain support is now a config file plus a chain-specific adapter - not a rewrite of the wallet core.
Seed phrase-only consumer wallet. Monthly support tickets about lost phrases growing 15% per month. 2.8% of users abandoned wallet due to recovery anxiety.
MPC wallet (Fireblocks-style 2-of-3 threshold signature) with social recovery. Lost-phrase tickets dropped 97%. User retention up 24%. No custody liability - users still hold a share.
MPC gives the UX of custody (no seed phrase) with the ownership properties of non-custody (user always holds at least one share). The third share held by Pharos infrastructure is useless alone and requires the user to initiate recovery.
Externally-owned-account (EOA) wallet requiring users to manage gas tokens on every supported chain. 40% drop-off on first transaction due to "I do not have ETH" errors.
ERC-4337 smart contract wallet with paymaster-sponsored gas + session keys. First-transaction drop-off reduced to 6%. Users onboard via email social login and execute their first transaction without holding any native token.
The paymaster sponsors gas for new users on their first 5 transactions; after that, users can pay gas in the app token or any ERC-20. Session keys let the app execute pre-approved transactions without a user signature popup for every action.
Client names anonymized under NDA. Full case studies at /cases/.
When a custom crypto wallet is not the answer
We decline roughly 30% of RFPs we receive. Forcing a bad fit costs both sides 3-6 months and damages outcomes. Here is how we think about scope:
- Products where WalletConnect + existing wallets (MetaMask, Rainbow, Phantom) would ship in days
- Wallet products without legal counsel on licensing requirements
- Seed phrase-only consumer wallets without a recovery strategy
- Custom signing code without an audited cryptography library base
- Wallet products that use custom crypto primitives (always use audited libraries)
For most dApps and Web3 products, WalletConnect with existing wallets (MetaMask, Rainbow, Phantom, Trust Wallet) ships in days and leverages the security posture of wallet teams with dedicated audit budgets. Custom wallet development makes sense when you need: a branded wallet with differentiated UX, embedded wallets for non-crypto-native users (Privy, Dynamic, Web3Auth), MPC custody for institutional users, or wallet features that existing wallets do not support (social recovery, spending limits, multi-sig).
Wallet security background
How to Choose a Blockchain Development Company Founder-grade evaluation guide covering security expertise, multi-chain experience and red flags to avoid when picking a wallet development partner. Continue readingPharos Production crypto wallet portfolio observations
Observations from 14 wallet engagements delivered 2020-2026 across self-custodial, MPC-custodial and enterprise treasury wallets.
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Wallets with transaction simulation shipped with 3.8x fewer post-launch approval-phishing incidents than wallets without in our sample.
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MPC-based recovery reduced user-reported "lost wallet" support tickets by 71 percent versus seed-phrase wallets in matched cohorts.
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Social recovery flows needed 3 iterations on average before non-technical users achieved 90 percent completion.
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Teams of 4 to 7 engineers plus 1 security reviewer shipped wallet MVPs to public beta in 14 to 20 weeks across 9 engagements.
Crypto wallet outlook 2026-2027
How to evaluate a crypto wallet before public launch
Lesson from production: the clear-signing gap
A customer-owned DeFi wallet launched in 2023 with strong signing UX on native tokens but delegated ERC-20 approvals to raw hex display. Within 4 weeks of launch, 17 wallets signed malicious "unlimited approval" transactions through a phishing dApp pretending to be a yield aggregator. Root cause: signing UX explained ETH amounts clearly but rendered approval calls as opaque data. We shipped transaction simulation (pre-execution preview of token transfers), human-readable ABI decoding and a red-banner warning on unlimited approvals. In the next 12 months, zero further approval-phishing losses in our analytics sample. The lesson: every ABI call seen by the wallet needs a human-readable preview, not just native transfers.
Published record
Published Pharos research
Technical articles, comparison guides and methodology deep-dives we write from our own delivery experience.
- State of AI Development Costs 2026
- AI Agent Frameworks Comparison 2026
- Build vs Buy AI Agent: 2026 Decision Framework
- RAG vs Fine-Tuning: When to Use Each Approach
- How to Choose an AI Development Company
- State of Smart Contract Audits 2026
- State of Production AI Engineering 2026
- State of FinTech Compliance Cost 2026
- State of Custom Software TCO 2026
- State of AppSec 2026
- State of Tech Due Diligence 2026
- How to Choose a Blockchain Development Company
- How to Choose a FinTech Development Company
- FinTech Compliance Checklist 2026: PCI DSS, SOC 2, GDPR and Beyond
- AI in FinTech: Transforming Financial Services in 2026
- Software Development Cost Guide: What to Expect in 2026
- How to Choose a Software Development Company in 2026
- Cybersecurity Essentials for Startups and SMBs in 2026
- FinTech Trends 2026: How Top FinTech Trends are Shaping Digital Banking
Platforms We Work With
Trusted by Coinbase, Consensys, Core Scientific, MicroStrategy, Gate.io and 10+ more Web3 and enterprise platforms
16+ partnersOur 16 technology partners include:
- Consensys
- Gate Io
- Coinbase
- Ludo
- Core Scientific
- Debut Infotech
- Axoni
- Alchemy
- Starkware
- Mara Holdings
- Microstrategy
- Nubank
- Okx
- Uniswap
- Riot
- Leeway Hertz
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Consensys
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Gate Io
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Coinbase
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Ludo
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Core Scientific
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Debut Infotech
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Axoni
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Alchemy
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Starkware
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Mara Holdings
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Microstrategy
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Nubank
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Okx
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Uniswap
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Riot
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Leeway Hertz
Crypto wallet solutions we build
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Multi-chain HD walletsHierarchical deterministic wallet architecture supporting Ethereum, Bitcoin, Solana, Polygon and L2 networks. Key derivation, backup/recovery and transaction signing. -
Institutional custody solutionsMulti-signature wallets with approval workflows, cold/hot storage segregation, policy engine for spending limits and audit logging for compliance.
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Consumer wallet appsMobile-first wallet applications with biometric auth, QR payments, token swap, staking interface, NFT gallery and push notifications for transaction confirmations.
About Founder and CTO
Founder and CTO Pharos Production
I design and build reliable software solutions – from lightweight apps to high-load distributed systems and blockchain platforms.
PhD in Artificial Intelligence, MSc in Computer Science (with honors), MSc in Electronics & Precision Mechanics.
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13 years in architecture of great software solutions tailored to customer needs for startups and enterprises
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23 years of practical enterprise customized software production experience
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Lecturer at the National Kyiv Polytechnic University
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Doctor of Philosophy in Artificial Intelligence
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Master’s degree in Computer Science, completed with excellence
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Master’s degree in Electronics and precision mechanics engineering
Choose your cooperation model
Audited single-chain contract or module with deployment, verification and documentation.
Multi-contract protocol, indexers, dApp frontend and full security review.
Cross-chain architecture, token economics, governance, audits and ongoing support.
Prices vary based on project scope, complexity, timeline and requirements. Contact us for a personalized estimate.
Or select the appropriate interaction model
Request staff augmentation
Need extra hands on your software project? Our developers can jump in at any stage – from architecture to auditing – and integrate seamlessly with your team to fill any technical gaps.
Hire dedicated experts
Whether you’re building from scratch or scaling fast, our engineers are ready to step in. You stay in control, and we handle the code.
Outsource your project
From first line to final audit, we handle the entire development process. We will deliver secure, production-ready software, while you can focus on your business.
Technologies, tools and frameworks we use
Our engineers work with 37+ blockchains technologies - chosen for production reliability and performance.
Blockchains
Private and Public Blockchains 33
Cloud Blockchain Solutions 4
Partnerships & Awards
Recognized on Clutch, GoodFirms and The Manifest for software engineering excellence
An approach to the development cycle
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Team Assembly
Our company starts and assembles an entire project specialists with the perfect blend of skills and experience to start the work.
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MVP
We’ll design, build, and launch your MVP, ensuring it meets the core requirements of your software solution.
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Production
We’ll create a complete software solution that is custom-made to meet your exact specifications.
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Ongoing
Continuous Support
Our company will be right there with you, keeping your software solution running smoothly, fixing issues, and rolling out updates.
FAQ
Quick answers to common questions about custom software development, pricing, process and technology.
Type to filter questions and answers. Use Topic to narrow the list.
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For most dApps, WalletConnect with existing wallets (MetaMask, Rainbow, Phantom) is the right call - it leverages wallet teams with dedicated audit budgets and ships in days. Build a custom wallet when you need: branded UX as a differentiator, embedded wallets for non-crypto-native users, MPC for institutional custody, or features that existing wallets do not support.
Most engagements we do are embedded wallets for consumer Web3 products where wallet friction would kill adoption.
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Non-custodial (user holds the key): maximum security and regulatory simplicity, highest UX friction. MPC 2-of-3 threshold (user holds one share, provider holds one, backup holds one): no seed phrase for the user, no custody liability for the provider, social recovery possible.
Account abstraction smart contract wallets (ERC-4337): programmable custody with session keys, spending limits, multi-sig. Custodial (provider holds the key): requires money transmitter or VASP licensing. We design for your users and regulatory posture.
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Audited cryptography libraries only (libsecp256k1, noble-crypto, tss-lib) - never custom signing code. Mobile wallets use Secure Enclave (iOS) or Keystore (Android) for key storage.
Hardware wallet integration via Ledger Live SDK or Trezor Connect. MPC wallets distribute key shares across infrastructure + user device. Web wallets use encrypted localStorage with password-derived keys. Every design choice is documented in an ADR the client owns.
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Wallet MVP 10-16 weeks: 3-5 weeks discovery + threat model + custody design, 5-8 weeks build (mobile/web + signing + chain integration + UI), 2-4 weeks production hardening and external audit prep. Production wallet with MPC, account abstraction, multi-chain and fiat on-ramps: 5-9 months including external audit cycle.
External audits add 4-8 weeks on top of the build timeline.
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Wallet MVP $80,000-$180,000 (basic single-chain, non-custodial, mobile or web). Production wallet $180,000-$500,000+ (multi-chain, MPC or AA, fiat on-ramps, hardware wallet integration, mobile + extension).
External audit $40,000-$150,000 depending on firm and complexity. Ongoing retainer from $10,000/month for infrastructure, monitoring and security updates.
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Yes. Ramp, MoonPay, Transak, Circle, Coinbase Pay for fiat-to-crypto; Ramp and MoonPay for crypto-to-fiat.
KYC and compliance handled by the provider - Pharos does not hold money transmitter licenses. Jurisdictional availability varies by provider; we scope coverage during discovery based on the client’s target markets.
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Yes. Manifest V3 extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge with secure communication channels, content script injection for dApp interactions, EIP-1193 provider implementation and hardware wallet support.
Browser extensions are more complex than mobile wallets because of the sandbox model and dApp attack surface; we treat the content script as untrusted and the background script as the security boundary.
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We decline wallet products without legal counsel on licensing, seed-phrase-only consumer wallets without a recovery strategy, custom signing code without audited libraries, products using custom crypto primitives, and projects where WalletConnect + existing wallets would solve the actual problem. We also decline custodial wallet work without a sponsor-licensed entity taking responsibility for the regulatory obligations.
The Pharos takeaway on crypto wallets
Crypto wallet engineering in 2026 is measurable: custody model clarity, audit coverage, phishing resistance, multi-chain UX and EIP-4337 readiness. Pharos Production builds wallets that pass public audit, app-store review and real-user attack simulation before public launch.
Your business results matter
Achieve them with minimized risk through our bespoke innovation capabilities
What happens next?
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Contact us
Contact us today to discuss your project. We’re ready to review your request promptly and guide you on the best next steps for collaboration
Same day -
NDA
We’re committed to keeping your information confidential, so we’ll sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement
1 day -
Plan the Goals
After we chat about your goals and needs, we’ll craft a comprehensive proposal detailing the project scope, team, timeline and budget
3-5 days -
Finalize the Details
Let’s connect on Google Meet to go through the proposal and confirm all the details together!
1-2 days -
Sign the Contract
As soon as the contract is signed, our dedicated team will jump into action on your project!
Same day
Our offices
Headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada. Engineering office in Kyiv, Ukraine.