MetaMask

MetaMask is a self-custodial crypto wallet best known for helping users access Ethereum-based apps from a normal browser, but it now works as a broader browser-and-mobile wallet for onchain activity. It is available as a browser extension and mobile app, and it is widely used for storing assets, sending tokens, managing NFTs, swapping, bridging, and connecting to DeFi platforms, games, and other dApps. For a closer look at how it performs day to day, see our MetaMask review.

While MetaMask built its reputation on Ethereum and EVM networks, the product is no longer limited to that role alone. It remains strongest for Ethereum, Layer 2s, and browser-based Web3 use, but its wallet experience has expanded beyond the original Ethereum-only model. In its standard self-custody setup, MetaMask does not store your Secret Recovery Phrase or private keys on its own servers. Instead, wallet credentials are kept locally on the user’s device and protected by the user’s password or device security.

For supported web apps, MetaMask can expose a wallet provider that lets sites request connections, signatures, and transactions with the user’s approval. That remains one of its biggest strengths, especially for people who actively use DeFi and other onchain tools. The trade-off is that it is still a hot wallet, so phishing, fake extensions, risky approvals, and device compromise remain important risks. It helps to compare MetaMask with other hot wallet options and self-custodial wallets before making it your main wallet.