Since its debut in 2016, a software wallet has remained at the top of the web3 industry for its ease of use, its forward-thinking approach, and for its continuous improvement in both features and security.
That software wallet is called MetaMask.
Many of the features, trends, and experiences that are common in software wallets today are due to MetaMask. The wallet has gone to great lengths to serve the blockchain community, to the point that it remains the most popular software wallet to this day. What is MetaMask, why is it still so popular, and what does the future hold for it?
Here is our complete guide to 2025 <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/MetaMask” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>MetaMask.
What is MetaMask?
MetaMask is an open source and free to use software wallet. Available on desktop and mobile devices, it allows users to store, send and receive blockchain-based cryptocurrencies and nfts.
Developed by <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/Consensys” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>consensusMetaMask is a vital tool between the user and Web3, allowing users to own digital assets and interact with a wide range of the most popular blockchain-based tools, sites and services.
The idea for the portfolio came from <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/ethereumJoseph” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Joseph Lubinco-founder of the ethereum blockchain, who realized that an easy-to-use software wallet would be crucial to the growth of blockchain technology.
MetaMask is a self-custodial wallet, meaning that users have full control over their private keys and therefore actual ownership of all tokens and assets they hold. This also allows the use of popular hardware wallets such as <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/Ledger” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Ledger and <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/Trezor” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Sure.
One of the goals of MetaMask is to make interaction with the blockchain simple, direct and easy to use. To help achieve this, MetaMask supports a wide range of browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Brave, and Edge, allowing users to get started with Web3 using browsers they are already familiar with.
This has been key to getting more users to interact with DeFi services like <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/Uniswap” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Uniswapnft collections like Bored Ape Yacht Club and blockchain-based platforms like <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/opensea” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Open sea.
MetaMask also has a set of security features, which add an extra defense between users' wallet and the sites they visit. This can help prevent fraud, malicious code, and more, and Consensys continually seeks security improvements to protect against the latest threats.
The MetaMask wallet supports the ethereum blockchain and all ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) supported networks, such as <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/BNBCHAIN” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>BNB ChainPolygon and Avalanche, to name a few. Recently, they introduced Snaps, a brand new feature that can enable connectivity to non-EVM blockchains such as Solana.
The history of MetaMask
The first public version of MetaMask was available in 2016, with the goal of making ethereum more accessible to internet users. Before MetaMask, software wallets were often difficult to use, which meant that only true enthusiasts would get involved with blockchain technology. MetaMask was the first software wallet that truly catered to the general public.
In 2017, MetaMask saw significant gains among its users due to the rise of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), and users enjoyed its ease of use. The wallet's popularity continued to grow, and in 2020, MetaMask launched its first mobile app for iOS and Android devices, helping to further expand accessibility.
When nfts went mainstream in 2021, MetaMask was the wallet of choice for newcomers around the world. As of August 2021, MetaMask reported over 10 million monthly active users, heralding its importance to the growing Web3 industry.
In 2023 Snaps was launched, allowing developers to extend the wallet functionality to non-EVM blockchains. 2024 took the functionality even further with the debut of MetaMask Card, a partnership with <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/Mastercard” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>MasterCard and <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/BaanxGroup” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Bank on a physical debit card. This allowed users to spend cryptocurrency from their MetaMask wallets anywhere MasterCard is accepted, without needing to use an exchange first, a big boost to everyday cryptocurrency use.
What's next for MetaMask?
With 2025 on the horizon, MetaMask continues its quest to improve accessibility, user experience and product quality.
Firstly, they seek to offer greater multi-chain support. By supporting a wider range of blockchains, MetaMask aims to become a universal wallet for Web3, allowing users to manage all their digital assets from a single wallet.
In addition to this, MetaMask is looking at the growing Layer 2 networking ecosystem. With people like <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/Optimism” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Optimism, <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/arbitrum” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Decision and <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/EclipseFND” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Eclipse As it continues to grow, MetaMask wants its users to benefit from the faster transaction speeds and lower fees these networks offer, making blockchain more attractive to use.
Security remains a top priority, with features like biometric authentication, hardware wallet integration, and phishing detection to protect users from the latest threats. To help with this, Consensys acquired a popular security service. <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/wallet_guard” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>wallet protector in July 2024, strengthening MetaMask's security arsenal.
Support for third-party developers is also an increasingly important part of MetaMask's future. With millions of users around the world, there is a community of developers who want to improve MetaMask's existing features, and the team is tapping into this motivated crowd with features like Snaps that encourage innovation and creativity.
In the space of 8 years, MetaMask has become the go-to software wallet in the blockchain landscape. Its user-centric design, ease of use, accessibility, and more have made it a go-to tool for blockchain veterans and newcomers around the world, and it has played a major role in growing Web3 to what it is. It's today.
Now there are many competitors on the market: <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/phantom” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Ghost, <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/XverseApp” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Xverse and <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/rainbowdotme” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Rainbow to name a few, although none have yet posed a challenge to MetaMask's crown. MetaMask is the benchmark by which all other software wallets are measured, and as of now, no one has come close to its mark.
