MetaMask, the self-custodial cryptocurrency wallet, puts users in the driver’s seat with total and sole control over their digital assets. Today, MetaMask is the most popular gateway to the decentralized web. It offers full support for Ethereum, ERC-20 tokens, Polygon (MATIC), BNB Smart Chain (BSC), and other dApps. Since the launch of MetaMask in 2016, it has never been compromised, and by consistently evolving and adapting its security features, MetaMask is committed to keeping users safe.

The heart of MetaMask’s security rests in its 12-word seed phrase. This phrase is a mnemonic human-readable encoding of a 128-bit master key, derived from the BIP-39 standard. MetaMask adds another layer of protection by encrypting the private key with a password of the user’s choosing. This encryption uses AES-256, a strong encryption method used by banks and is a standard used by the U.S. government.

MetaMask has a good security track record. Overall, no significant hacks have occurred since its inception. To continue improving the security of our users and their assets, MetaMask uses real-time data analysis and machine learning with our team’s product Blockaid to find potential threats. As an open-source platform, MetaMask’s code is publicly available, which means a global community of experts investigates it for vulnerabilities.

ConsenSys, an influential and controversial blockchain technology company founded by Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin, invented MetaMask in 2016. MetaMask functions primarily as a wallet, not a traditional exchange, enabling users to interact with dApps, including games, marketplaces, and financial tools.

MetaMask has an amazing new feature you won’t want to miss — MetaMask Swaps. With it, users can swap tokens right in their wallet! With the mobile app available on both iOS and Android devices, MetaMask is accessible across all platforms.

That’s because MetaMask defaults to Infura as its RPC provider. Thanks to a 2023 update, now users can select which RPC provider they want, providing them much better transparency and control over their connections to the blockchain.