Since its inception in 2016, one software wallet has ruled the blockchain industry for its ease of use, its positive attitude to change, and its forever forward-thinking approach. That wallet is called the MetaMask wallet.
Many of the features, trends and experiences that are common in software wallets today can all be traced back to MetaMask. The wallet has kept ahead of the trend – so much so that it remains the most popular software wallet to this day. What is MetaMask, why do so many still use it today, and what lays in its future?
Here’s our complete 2025 guide to MetaMask.
What is MetaMask Wallet?
MetaMask is a free-to-use, open-source cryptocurrency wallet. Available on both desktop and mobile, it allows users to store, send and receive a variety of blockchain-based cryptocurrencies and NFTs.
Developed by leading blockchain software company Consensys, MetaMask acts as a vital tool between the user and the decentralized web, enabling digital asset ownership and user interaction with a wide array of Web3’s most popular sites, tools and services.
The wallet is the brainchild of Joseph Lubin, a co-founder of the Ethereum blockchain, who realized that a user-focused software wallet would be key to the adoption and appeal of blockchain technology.
MetaMask is a self-custodial wallet, which means that users retain full control over their private keys, and enabling the use of popular hardware wallets such as Ledger and Trezor.
One of MetaMask’s core aims is to make interacting with blockchain as simple and user-friendly as possible. To that end, MetaMask supports a wide range of browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Brave and Edge, allowing users to get started with Web3 using the tools they are already familiar with.
This simplified access to blockchain networks has become a key tool for getting more users to actively engage with DeFi services such as Uniswap, NFT collections such as Bored Ape Yacht Club, and blockchain-based platforms such as OpenSea.
MetaMask also has a set of security features, adding a line of defence between a users’ wallet and the platforms they interact with. This can help prevent fraudulent transactions, with Consensys continuing to pursue security measures that prevent bad actors.
MetaMask supports Ethereum and all Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible networks, including BNB Chain, Polygon, and Avalanche. They have recently introduced Snaps, a brand-new feature that allows for plugins that allow connectivity to non-EVM blockchains such as Solana.
What has MetaMask accomplished so far?
MetaMask was launched in 2016, with the goal of making Ethereum more accessible to the global web. Prior to MetaMask, software wallets were often cumbersome, difficult to use, and limited to technical experts – and MetaMask was the first of what would become many to change this notion.
2017 saw MetaMask gain significant traction due to the Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) boom, as users flocked to its easy-to-use nature to get involved. The wallet’s popularity continued to grow, and in 2020, MetaMask released its mobile application for iOS and Android devices, helping broaden its utility even further.
The NFT explosion of 2021 helped propel MetaMask into the mainstream. By August 2021, MetaMask reported over 10 million monthly active users, reflecting its significance to the growing blockchain industry.
As 2023 rolled around, MetaMask continued to innovate with the release of Snaps, enabling developers to extend the wallet’s functionality to non-EVM blockchains.
2024 saw the debut of MetaMask Card – a partnership with MasterCard and Baanx for a physical debit card that enables users to spend cryptocurrency directly from their MetaMask wallets at any location where MasterCard is accepted. This is done without exchanging cryptocurrency for fiat currency in advance, marking a major boost to the use of cryptocurrency in real-world, everyday use cases.
What does the future hold for MetaMask?
As we enter 2025, the MetaMask team has its sights set on several key areas – all with improving user experience at the forefront.
Firstly, there’s a push towards greater multi-chain support. By enabling connectivity with a wider range of blockchains, including non-EVM networks, MetaMask aims to become a universal wallet for the decentralized web. This expansion would allow users to manage all of their digital assets from within a single wallet.
On top of this, MetaMask is increasingly looking at the growing ecosystem of Layer-2 networks – both Ethereum-based and otherwise. With the likes of Optimism, Arbitrum and Eclipse continuing to grow, MetaMask aim to help their users benefit from faster transaction speeds and lower fees, making blockchain both simpler and less expensive to use.
Security continues to be a top priority, with features such as biometric authentication, hardware wallet integration, and phishing detection aiming to protect users from emerging threats. To this end, Consensys acquired popular security tool Wallet Guard in July 2024 to further bolster MetaMask’s security arsenal.
Leveraging third-party developers is also becoming an increasing part of MetaMask’s future. With millions of users around the world, there’s a league of keen developers looking to enhance MetaMask’s existing feature set – and the team are tapping into this resource with features like Snaps to encourage innovation and improve the user experience.
Over the past 8 years, MetaMask has established itself as the go-to software wallet of the blockchain ecosystem. Its feature set, ease of use, accessibility and more have made it an indispensable tool for countless blockchain veterans and newcomers around the world, and its played a core role in the growth of Web3 we see today.
Although there are plenty of challengers in the market – Phantom, Xverse and Rainbow to name a few – none have yet to pose a serious challenge to the dominance of MetaMask. Could 2025 change that? We doubt it.
Riding crypto waves since 2012, bridging digital and physical worlds through prose.