- MetaMask adds Solana in May and Bitcoin in Q3, expanding beyond Ethereum Virtual Machine chains.
- Gas-included swaps will soon allow payments with any token, with long-term plans to remove gas fees entirely.
- MetaMask shifts to smart-contract-based accounts for enhanced security and advanced asset management.
MetaMask, a crypto self-custodial wallet, plans to add support for the Bitcoin and Solana networks and eventually eliminate gas prices as part of a year-long upgrade program.
The Bitcoin network will be merged in the third quarter, and Solana will be the first non-Ethereum Virtual Machine chain supported by MetaMask in May, according to MetaMask’s Dan Finlay in a post on February 27.
Gas-included swaps, which enable users to trade two tokens while paying with the token being swapped, will soon be improved to allow users to pay with whatever token they own. MetaMask noted that it eventually intends to remove gas for all users.
Gas Fee Overhaul and Transaction Enhancements
MetaMask also plans to make transaction fees more user-friendly. A key update involves enhancing gas-included swaps, allowing users to pay transaction fees with any token they hold. This eliminates the need for users to maintain a specific token balance to cover gas fees.
The company has also expressed its long-term goal of removing gas fees entirely. While the details on how this will be achieved remain unclear, MetaMask stated that it aims to make transaction fees a non-issue for users.
In addition to MetaMask’s shift to smart transactions, the wallet provider will adopt ERC-5792, commonly known as batched transactions, which let users conduct typical transaction sequences such as “Approve & Swap” in one click, reducing time and fees.
MetaMask’s interface will also receive improvements. A new home screen will display all assets across supported chains in a single view, removing the need to switch between networks.
Security and Account Upgrades
MetaMask is shifting from Externally Owned Accounts (EOAs) to smart-contract-based accounts. This transition will enhance security and enable advanced asset management features. Users will gain access to more customizable account features while also increasing the overall security of their funds.
As the battle for bitcoin wallets heats up, MetaMask’s recent updates position it to retain clients and grow its market share. Notably, its rivals Phantom and Rabby have already acquired success thanks to strong Solana support, particularly during the recent memecoin trading boom.
MetaMask’s new developments received praise from X user fairo.eth, who noted that MetaMask has likely bled considerable market share from competitor wallets Phantom and Rabby lately. Both crypto wallets support Solana, where many of the top-performing tokens from the 2024 meme coin craze were traded.
MetaMask is advancing its offerings with Solana and Bitcoin integrations while working towards eliminating gas fees. The introduction of batched transactions and improved account security further strengthens its ecosystem. As these improvements are released, MetaMask hopes to build a more user-friendly and efficient self-custodial wallet experience.
