Got crypto? Good! Ever thought where’s the best place to put them? Just as you wouldn’t keep your savings under your mattress, your crypto shouldn’t be left unprotected. In come crypto wallets: the safe place where you can keep your digital assets, whether you’re an investor, a trader, or someone who’s just starting from square one. Among the countless crypto wallets available online, MetaMask is one of the most popular, having gained a reputation as supporter of the development of decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and helping make blockchain and crypto technologies easier and more accessible to use. Oh, and it’s completely free.
Main features
With MetaMask, you can:
- Buy, receive, send, and exchange Ether (Ethereum’s main crypto) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in marketplaces
- Connect to Ethereum dApps (Decentralized Applications built on Ethereum’s blockchain)
- Connect to other crypto wallets
- Play games that operate on blockchain technology, like MyCryptoHeroes, 0xUniverse and more (ang earn some crypto while doing so!)
- Access more networks beyond Ethereum, such as Binance Smart Chain and other experimental ones
At the beginning, MetaMask was just a desktop browser plugin. As time passed by, more and more users around the world trusted it to keep their crypto. It’s no surprise why, as it’s one of the best self-custody wallets (meaning, you, and only you’re the one who has control of your passwords and keys), the interface is simple and user-friendly, and it’s updated regularly. Eventually, MetaMask developed a mobile wallet app. With the MetaMask app, handling your crypto is easier and more convenient as you can do it directly from your phone.
Getting started
The app can be found in the Apple Store for iOS and in Google Play Store for Android users. Make sure you download it from these official sites, as there are many fake ones out there ready to steal your data.
When you launch MetaMask for the first time, you’re prompted to set up your wallet. First, you’ll need to read through the terms and conditions (and agree to them), and then you’ll be able to either import a wallet, sync, or create a new one.
- Import using a seed phrase: This is for users who already have a MetaMask wallet account on another device and want to import it to a new one. If you’ve changed phones, for example, this is what you need to do.
- Sync with MetaMask extension: If you’re already using MetaMask in its desktop version (either on Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge or Opera browsers), you’ll be happy to know that you can sync it with the mobile app by simply scanning a QR code (From the desktop extension, go to Settings à Advanced and click on Sync with Mobile. Then you’ll be prompted to scan a QR code to complete the syncing process, and voilà! You’re all set.
- Create a new wallet: As a new user, you’ll have to set up a password to access your wallet, and then you’ll be assigned an extremely important 12-word phrase, generated just for you: your Secret Recovery Phrase (SRP). If you happen to lose your password, your SRP is the only way to get back access to your wallet and funds. It’s highly advised to store your Secret Recovery Phrase in an offline format to avoid hackers. Also, make sure to keep it to yourself, and never share it! Anyone who has access to your SRP can take control of your account and your digital assets. Be careful!
The bottomline
You may be wondering if MetaMask is good for you. Well, it’s rather simple: if you’re involved with the Ethereum ecosystem (which is massive!), and need to manage your crypto in a free, user-friendly, safe and secure wallet, MetaMask is definitely worth trying. However, if you’re more into Bitcoin, you might want to explore other options.