MetaMask Wallet Extension for Chrome and Firefox
MetaMask Wallet Extension is a trusted and well-established browser extension that works as a digital currency wallet that users can connect to the ETH-based blockchain. MetaMask allows users to connect to the ETH ecosystem, consisting of a massive universe of dApps (decentralized applications), without downloading the complete blockchain on the desired device. It provides the best ETH wallet solutions for simple access to gaming platforms, DEX (decentralized exchange), gambling websites, and other apps. MetaMask Wallet is compatible with the majorly adopted browsers like Firefox, Chrome, Brave, and Edge. Along with storing the native currency of ETH, users can hold assets built on the ERC-20 and ERC-721 protocol standards.
History of MetaMask Wallet Extension
MetaMask Wallet Extension has had over 400,000 active users since its establishment in 2016. In 2019, the ETH digital wallet was only accessible as a desktop browser plugin for Google Chrome and Firefox. In 2020, ConsenSys launched the foremost official MetaMask smartphone app for iOS and Android devices.
According to a security company, Least Authority, the ETH digital wallet offers advanced functionalities and features regarding design and safety. The thing that makes MetaMask the best ETH wallet is its remarkable encryption feature, which safely keeps its users' private keys and passwords on their devices. Also, it grants users to add several wallets and switch between the major testnets, the ETH mainnet, and the Binance Smart Chain mainnet.
Usability of MetaMask Wallet Extension
MetaMask Wallet Extension is an in-browser app for desktop or PC and a mobile app accessible on Google Store and App Store. Users can easily integrate the wallet with cryptocurrency websites like Uniswap, OpenSea, and QuickSwap.
MetaMask Wallet Desktop
The MetaMask app permits users to transfer and receive assets with the smart contract or other wallets with the supported blockchain. Users also get the choice of purchasing currencies through the providers on the platform, like Transak, MoonPay, and Wyre. While the MetaMask Wallet does not need users to complete KYC authentication, the third-party platforms remain compliant. Also, the wallet supports hardware wallets like Trezor and Ledger, providing users room to send NFTs and cryptocurrencies from a hardware-based cold wallet to a software-based hot wallet for secure storage.
While accessing MetaMask on a connected website is simple to transfer, exchange, and receive tokens, one can't sell tokens on the wallet. Users must transfer their tokens to their external wallet before changing them to cash.
MetaMask Wallet App
The MetaMask mobile application is accessible on the Apple Store for iOS and Google Play for Android devices.
The app grants users to receive and transfer NFTs and tokens on compatible blockchains. Users need to have enough Ether to pay gas fees during transactions. Users can purchase Ether (ETH) using Transak on the app through credit cards, bank transfers, or Apple Pay.
Guide to Download and Use MetaMask Wallet Extension
If you are new to MetaMask and wish to set up a wallet, follow the instructions below.
Download MetaMask Chrome Extension
To use the wallet, you must download & install the right brewer plugin. The creation and usages procedure are similar regardless of your device's web browser.
After downloading the MetaMask Wallet Extension, hit the Get Started tab on the home screen.
Then, choose the Create a Wallet option.
After agreeing with the terms, you should create a strong password. The password must contain eight characters, including numbers, letters, and symbols. Press the Create button.
On the next page, tap the Lock icon and correctly jot down the secret seed phrase.
Secure the Seed Phrase
You need to note the backup seed phrase and store it somewhere secure from other parties. Also, you should never keep a virtual copy of the seed phrase, as if anyone gets access to it, they can steal your funds by importing the phrase to another wallet.
The backup phrase is the only way to retrieve the wallet if you damage your device, forget the password, or launch your wallet on another device. Hitting the Next tab leads you to the Backup Phrase confirmation screen.
On the confirmation page, you must specify the seed phrase in the correct order and tap on the Confirm icon.
After this, you will reach the last page, where you should hit the All Done tab to finish the procedure.
That's it; your MetaMask Wallet Extension is now ready to use.
Is MetaMask Wallet Extension Secure?
The online nature of the MetaMask Wallet Extension platform restricts the security level compared to cold storage hardware wallets like Ledger and Trezor. However, MetaMask beats other crypto wallets in terms of simplicity and ease of access with the ETH DApp (decentralized applications) world because of its quick setup and accessibility on smartphone and desktop platforms.
MetaMask Wallet doesn't have control of sensitive or private details on its servers and protects or encrypts everything available on the user's password and browsers.
However, MetaMask Wallet is still a hot wallet because it's a software wallet attached to the internet to store digital assets. Hot or online wallets are generally less safe than cold wallets, which provide offline storage for digital currencies on a piece of hardware.
Also, the feature of the wallet to adjust the gas limit allows users to select the speed of the transactions and the amount they must pay in fees, something unavailable in many digital currency wallets.
Conclusion
MetaMask Wallet Extension is the safest and easiest extension for accessing decentralized or ETH-enabled distributed apps. The extension connects the ETH Web3 API to the javascript context of each website so that decentralized applications can read through the blockchain. MetaMask also allows the users to generate and handle their identities (through local client wallet, private keys, and hardware wallets), so when a dApp need to execute a transaction and jot down to the blockchain, the users obtain a safe interface to check their transaction, before approving or canceling it. The above guide will find every minor and major detail about MetaMask Extension.