Whether you’re looking to create your first non-fungible token (NFT), lend assets on a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol or simply buy and transfer Ethereum-based tokens, you’ll first need to download compatible crypto-wallet software. This will allow you to store any assets you create or buy, as well as connect to any platform built on top of the Ethereum blockchain.

While there are a number of different wallet services available, MetaMask is by far the most popular with over 21 million monthly active users – up by 38x since 2020. To put it simply, MetaMask is a free hot wallet service available as a smartphone app or web browser extension. This means you can download it directly onto your phone or the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Brave or Edge browser similar to an ad blocker extension. The “hot” part simply means it’s permanently connected to the internet so that you can easily move your crypto assets around at any time.

Episode 2: The Monetization Maze00:00/04:03STORY CONTINUES BELOWDon't miss another story.Subscribe to the The Protocol Newsletter today. See all newslettersBy signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk products and you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

One of the key reasons MetaMask is so popular among new and existing crypto users is its interoperability with virtually all Ethereum-based platforms. MetaMask allows users to connect to more than 3,700 different decentralized applications and Web 3 services.

So the question is, how do set up your own MetaMask crypto wallet?

Getting started

Installation

The first thing you’ll need to do is download the MetaMask wallet software onto your chosen device by visiting the official website here. You will be presented with the following options:

• Browser: Compatible with Google Chrome, Firefox, Brave or Edge website browser.
• Android: Compatible with any smartphone that operates using Android’s operating system.
• iOS: Compatible with any iPhone.

Once you’ve selected the appropriate option, click the “Install MetaMask for …” button.

MetaMask homepage

Navigate to the extension icon in the top right corner of your web browser and find the MetaMask option, once you’ve successfully downloaded the software. Click the “Get Started” button and you’ll be taken to the next page and presented with two options (see below.)