MetaMask will allow you to connect to decentralized applications (DApps) directly from the browser (or through a mobile application). You can make transactions without intermediaries and play various games with completely transparent source code (so you can be sure that you have not been scammed).

Check out the manual to get started with the extension!

The creation of Ethereum was marked by the promise of a distributed Internet – the long-awaited Web 3.0. This is a space characterized by the absence of single points of failure, true ownership of data, and the presence of decentralized applications (DApps).

The infrastructure under construction is steadily converging with a focus on decentralized finance (DeFi) and interoperability protocols that aim to connect different blockchains. Now you can exchange tokens and cryptocurrencies, take crypto loans, and even use Bitcoin on the Ethereum network.

For many Ethereum network enthusiasts, MetaMask is the ideal wallet. Unlike smartphone or desktop software, the wallet is available as a browser extension where users directly interact with supported web pages. In this article, we will explain how MetaMask works and how to get started with it.

MetaMask is an open source Ethereum wallet that supports all kinds of Ethereum-based tokens (such as ERC-20 tokens and non-fungible tokens, also known as NFTs). In addition, you can receive them from other network users or buy / exchange them using the built-in integration with Coinbase and ShapeShift.

A distinctive feature of MetaMask is that the extension can interact with other websites. When using other wallets, you need to copy and paste the payment address or scan the QR code on a separate device. With the MetaMask extension, the site will simply send a request to the wallet and you will be prompted to accept or decline the transaction.

MetaMask can serve as an ordinary cryptocurrency wallet, but its main advantage lies in its flawless interaction with smart contracts and decentralized applications. Let’s learn how to create a wallet.

MetaMask wallet can be installed in Google Chrome, Firefox and Brave browsers. It is also available for iOS and Android, but we won’t stop there now. In this tutorial, we’ll be using Firefox, but no matter what browser you’re using, the steps are pretty much the same.

Go to the official metamask.io download page. Select your browser, then you will be redirected to the Chrome Web Store or the Firefox add-ons site. Click the install extension button. You may need to grant it some permissions before running it. Make sure that you are satisfied with the requirements for accessing the browser – if so, then go ahead.

You should see a welcome message.

Like us, you probably played with this cute fox for a long time before you started working with the extension.

When you’re done teasing the fox on the welcome page, click “Start” . Here you will be prompted to either import a seed phrase or create a new one. Click “Create Wallet” . On the next page, you’ll be asked if you’d like to send anonymous data to the developers to help improve the app. Choose the option you like best.

Now you need to create a password. If you really read user agreements for programs (there must be legends about you), you can view it by pressing “Terms of Use” . Otherwise, create a strong password, check the box and click “Create” .

Back up your seed phrase!

This point is so important that it deserves its own subheading. MetaMask is a non-custodial service, which means that no one else can access your funds – not even the developers of MetaMask. It can be said that your tokens exist in the browser’s encrypted storage, which is password protected. This means that if your computer is lost, stolen or destroyed, you will not be able to recover your wallet. Your private keys will be forever lost in the void of cyberspace.

Therefore, it is extremely important to write down a backup phrase. This is the only way to recover your account if something happens. We recommend that you write down the words and store them in two or three different places. Not necessarily put them in a fireproof safe and bury them in a deep forest, but it won’t be superfluous.

To view the phrase, click on the gray field.

In case you went to the next page and did not complete the previous step, the program will ask you to confirm the phrase. If you haven’t saved the phrase, press “Back” and write down !

Confirm the phrase and proceed to the next step. Click “You’re done” and you will see the wallet interface.

The boring part is over, now let’s get some money (in the testnet).

In this tutorial, we will use the Ropsten testnet. This network functions much like the real Ethereum network, but its coins have no value. They come in handy when you’re designing contracts and want to make sure they don’t have vulnerabilities that would allow attackers to transfer $50 million to themselves. Every step we take on this network can be played on a real device (unfortunately except for the part where they give us free ether).

To connect to the Ropsten test network, click Main Ethereum Network in the upper right corner and select Ropsten Test Network .

Ethereum has many testnets. You can learn about their differences from this comparison.

We will use a faucet to get test funds for the game. To receive funds, visit this page in a browser that has MetaMask installed.

Hooray! Free money!

To display a pop-up window with your MetaMask account information, you can click on the little fox icon at any time (as in the GIF image above). Hover over Account 1 and click to copy your Ethereum address to your clipboard. Paste it into the form and click “Send me a test broadcast” .

Normally, Ethereum transactions are confirmed fairly quickly, but it may take some time before 1 ETH reaches your wallet. You can check the receipt of assets by clicking on the fox in the toolbar.

As soon as the funds are transferred, we can start working with DApps.

Because we’re on a testnet, we don’t have a lot of apps to interact with. A full list of mainnet dapps can be found at State of the DApps or Dappradar. You can play games, buy unique assets or bet on prediction markets.

We will be using the DApp we demonstrated earlier. Uniswap is a decentralized exchange (DEX) where you can place trades without relying on intermediaries. The mechanisms behind it are quite elegant – you can read about them in the article What is Uniswap and how it works.

You can access Uniswap here. In the upper right corner you should see the request “Connect to wallet” . Such a request will appear on all MetaMask compatible sites, since the extension is not automatically connected for security reasons. Click on it and you will be prompted to select a wallet. If you were not redirected to another page, then this wallet will be MetaMask.

The first time a site tries to connect, a MetaMask dialog will appear asking you to confirm the action. Here you can select an account (we only have one for now, so leave it as it is) and then see what permissions you’re going to grant the site. In this case, as in many others, the site asks for information about the wallet address of your account.

MetaMask and privacy

It’s important to be aware of the information you provide to sites. If the site knows your address, it can track all incoming and outgoing transactions with ether and tokens. Moreover, an address on the Ethereum network can be mapped to your IP address.

Some choose to separate their addresses to prevent any overlap, while others don’t care about the risks (the blockchain is public, after all). The level of privacy you want to achieve is ultimately up to you. General rule: do not give access to your data sites that you do not trust.

Exchange ETH for DAI

Time to make our first exchange. We will make an exchange with DAI stablecoin, an ERC-20 token. However, like our Ethereum, this DAI has no real value. Click “Select Token” , add the default Uniswap list , and then click “DAI” . Alternatively, you can choose WETH (wrapped ether).

Now all that’s left is to enter the amount of ETH we want to exchange. After entering, you will see the amount of DAI you should receive. Ready! Press “Exchange” .

Complete the exchange using MetaMask.

Then you will be prompted again to confirm the action with MetaMask. In this case, you need to confirm the transaction before creating it. When you do this on the mainnet, make sure the fee is acceptable to you as it can be high. The commission depends on the current state of the network.

After that, we need to wait for the confirmation of the transaction.

➟ Do you want to start using cryptocurrency? Buy ETH on Binance!

Where are my tokens stored?

So, your ether is gone, but new tokens are not displayed in your account. Don’t panic – you need to add them manually.

If these are popular tokens, select Add Token and search by name or ticker. If you exchanged less popular ones (or those that are in the test network), then you need to manually add contract address is an identifier that tells MetaMask where to look for our balance.

1. Open the wallet by clicking on the extension.
2. Click on the three dots in the top bar.
3. Select “View on Etherscan” .
4. In section “Overview” click on the drop-down list “Token” and select DAI.
5. In section “Profile Summary” , you should see the address of the contract. Copy the address by hovering over it.
6. Go back to MetaMask and press “Add token” .
7. Click on the User Token tab .
8. Paste the copied address into the form “Token contract address” .
9. The rest of the fields should be filled in automatically. Click “Next” , then “Add Tokens” .
10. Return to the main screen to view the full balance.

Congratulations! You just used your first DApp, securely trading Ether for DAI. Everything you’ve learned can now be done on the real web. When you’re ready to use the main network apps, don’t forget to switch from Ropsten to the main network.

MetaMask has other useful features that we haven’t discussed here. You can connect a hardware wallet (both Trezor and Ledger are supported), create a contact list and, of course, receive and send funds just like a regular wallet. You can customize the extension to suit your needs.

Beyond that, the usual security principles apply: MetaMask is a hot wallet, which means it runs on a device connected to the internet. This puts you at greater risk than using a cold wallet that is offline in order to minimize the surface of attack vectors.

Finally, when using MetaMask, you must be aware of which sites you are granting access to.

The MetaMask app for Android/iPhone is a convenient solution for interacting with Web3 applications inside your smartphone. Sharing most of the same functionality as the extension, the app has a built-in DApp browser, so you can access various decentralized applications with a single tap.

Application browser inside MetaMask.

Using the application is very similar to working with a browser extension.