What are Nested Safes?
Nested Safes allow you to use one Safe as a signer for another Safe. This creates a hierarchical security structure where child Safes inherit the security properties of their parent Safe.
Example of a nested safe setup;
2 Owners. One owner signs using an EOA (Metamask) while the other owner uses another safe. The threshold for this safe is 2 implying that both owners must sign the transaction in order for it to be successful.
The transactions are executed in a tree structure.
The transaction is proposed in the original Safe
The transaction is broadcasted and then pops up in the queue on the nested or signer safe
Each signatory of that Safe must then sign the transaction, these could also be other Safe's. You could potentially have chains of nested Safe's
Finally, transaction is then executed on the original Safe
Key Benefits
Enhanced Security: Create multiple security layers for your most valuable assets
Organizational Structure: Mirror your organizational hierarchy on-chain
Creating a Nested Safe
Access your Safe{Wallet}
Set up a new Nested Safe
Click "+ Add Nested Safe" located on the main Dashboard screen
Name your Nested Safe (e.g., "Delighted Nested Safe")
Select assets to fund it with
Click "Next"
Confirm the creation
Review transaction details
Approve the transaction
Managing Nested Safes
View all Nested Safes via the Nested Safes interface, you can see this in the setup section on the wallet.
Add multiple Nested Safes to create complex hierarchies
Rename existing Nested Safes for better organization
Transaction Flow with Nested Safes
Transaction Proposal: A transaction is proposed in the parent Safe
Child Safe Notification: The transaction appears in the queue of the child/signer Safe
Multi-level Signing: Owners of the child Safe must sign according to its threshold
Execution: Once threshold requirements are met at all levels, the transaction executes on the parent Safe
💡 Child-Safe's also function as de facto proposers
Child Safe owners can propose transactions directly to their Parent Safe using pre-validated signatures, enabling immediate processing in nested configurations.
Best Practices
Start with simple hierarchies before creating complex structures
Use clear naming conventions for easy identification
Consider threshold requirements carefully at each level
Regularly audit your Nested Safe structure
FAQ
Can Nested Safes have their own Nested Safes? Yes, you can create multiple levels of nested hierarchies.
What happens if a parent Safe is compromised? Child Safes could potentially be affected, so secure your parent Safe appropriately.