How to Add Avalanche to MetaMask

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MetaMask is a free web and mobile crypto wallet with over ten million active monthly users. MetaMask was launched in 2016 to provide support for the Ethereum network, allowing users to store and swap cryptocurrencies, host a rich suite of decentralized applications like yield farming protocols and NFT marketplaces, token swap applications, and play blockchain-based games. 

Aiming to establish an interoperable and interconnected Web3 ecosystem, MetaMask has expanded to support the entire EVM (Ethereum virtual machine) ecosystem with Binance Smart Chain (BSC) and other networks, such as Fantom, Cronos, Polygon, Avalanche, etc.

The Avalanche Network (AVAX) is an open-source, robust, secure, and flexible platform for financial primitives and decentralized applications. Avalanche can handle over 4,500 transactions per second due to its different blockchain types, including the Exchange Chain (X-Chain) for trading assets, the Contract Chain (C-Chain) for contracts, and the Platform Chain (P-Chain) for validating AVAX tokens.

Connecting your MetaMask wallet to the Avalanche Network allows you to benefit from the Avalanche DeFi ecosystem, including its low-cost, high-speed transactions, and explore all the exciting applications of AVAX tokens.

If you’re already using the Avalanche network, note that MetaMask only works with the C-Chain wallet. Therefore, for sending AVAX from your Avalanche wallet, your tokens must be in your C-Chain wallet. You can also transfer your AVAX tokens to MetaMask using a C-Chain-integrated exchange wallet, such as Binance.

How to Add Avalanche (AVAX) Network to MetaMask?

Follow these easy steps to connect MetaMask to Avalanche (AVAX):

Step #1: Install and Setup MetaMask Wallet

If you don’t have a wallet, the first step is downloading and installing MetaMask, which is available as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Brave, and Edge and as a mobile app for Android and iOS. For this article, we’ll focus on MetaMask’s browser version for Chrome.

  • Launch Chrome, then navigate to the official Metamask website and click on “Download” in the top right corner.
  • Navigate to the “Install MetaMask for Chrome” at the bottom of the download page.

Ensure you always use the official website to ensure you’re getting the genuine MetaMask extension.

Metamask homepage
MetaMask homepage

After downloading and installing the extension, click “Get Started” on the MetaMask welcome page.

Get started on MetaMask
Get started on MetaMask

To create a new wallet, click “Create a Wallet” or use the “Import Wallet” option to import an old wallet by entering your private key/seed phrase.

import or create wallet
Import or create a wallet on MetaMask

You can accept or deny MetaMask’s suggestion to share anonymous use statistics with them to help develop the addon.

improve  MetaMask
Agree or disagree to provide anonymous data

To log in to your wallet from your browser, you must create a secure password to prevent unauthorized access to your wallet. You can always use your seed phrase to access your crypto if you forget your password.

create password for wallet
Create a password to your MetaMask

MetaMask will provide information about your wallet’s seed phrase after your password creation.

Your seed phrase will now be displayed, so you must click on the lock to see it and write them down in the correct sequence. Remember never to reveal the phrase to anybody and keep it in a safe location (ideally offline). To move forward, click on “Next.”

secret recovery phrase
Your secret recovery phrase for MetaMask

Repeat your seed phrase by clicking on the words at the bottom of the screen in the correct order. Once you’ve finished, click “Confirm.”

Confirm your secret recovery phrase
Confirm your secret recovery phrase

Your MetaMask wallet is now configured and ready to use. To view your wallet, click on “All Done.”

profile created
Congrats profile created

To make MetaMask easily accessible, pin it to your Chrome browser by clicking the puzzle symbol and pinning MetaMask to the toolbar. MetaMask will be connected to Ethereum Mainnet by default after the initial setup. 

MetaMask extension main page
MetaMask extension main page

Step #2: Wallet Configuration

The MetaMask wallet is by default linked to the Ethereum mainnet. To add Avalanche to your wallet, you must enter its network information to the extension.

Launch MetaMask and select the network option from the dropdown menu.

ETH Mainnet
ETH Mainnet

Click on “Add Network” to add the Avalanche Network.

add network
Add Network on MetaMask

Step #3: Add Avalanche Network

After clicking on Add Network, a new window will open, enabling you to enter the new network details.

In the Settings tab, copy and paste the following information:

avalanche network details
Adding Avalanche Network to MetaMask

After entering the above information, click “Save,” and the Avalanche Network will connect to your MetaMask. You have now established a secure connection with the Avalanche Network.

Navigate to your MetaMask wallet to confirm you have successfully added the Avalanche Network.

AVAX coin on MetaMask
AVAX coin on MetaMask

The AVAX icon will appear next to the AVAX balance in your MetaMask wallet.

If you can see the “Avalanche Mainnet C-Chain” on the network selection dropdown menu, you’ve successfully added it to MetaMask.

Avalanche Network
Avalanche Network

How to Send AVAX Tokens to MetaMask?

After establishing a connection to the Avalanche network, you can send Avalanche (AVAX) tokens from another Avalanche wallet to MetaMask.

As noted before, you can only use a C-Chain wallet to send AVAX to your MetaMask wallet. 

Be cautious! If you choose the incorrect chain, you risk losing your tokens.

Log in to your Avalanche wallet and check the “Balance” box at the top to see where your AVAX tokens are.

Avalanche wallet

If you have AVAX tokens in your X-Chain wallet, you must first move them to your C-Chain wallet before sending them to MetaMask.

Go to the left menu bar and click on “Cross Chain.”

Cross Chain on Avalanche wallet

Choose ‘C-Chain’ as the destination chain, input the amount you want to transfer from your X-Chain wallet, and press “Confirm.”

Selecting destination chain
Selecting destination chain on Avalanche wallet

Note: You have to pay a small transaction fee.

Head back to the left menu bar and select “Send.”

Sending on Avalanche wallet

Choose ‘C’ for the source chain and enter the amount you want to send to MetaMask.

Sending AVAX on Avalanche wallet
Sending AVAX on Avalanche wallet

Go to your MetaMask wallet and copy your MetaMask address.

Copy your AVA wallet address on MetaMask
Copy your AVAX wallet address on MetaMask

Return to your Avalanche wallet and paste your MetaMask wallet address in the “To Address” column. Check the gas fee and click “Confirm” to proceed with the transfer. As soon as the transaction is verified, the AVAX will appear in your MetaMask wallet.

If you want to buy AVAX, you must create an exchange account such as a Binance account, etc.

Paste the copied address on Avalanche wallet
Paste the copied address on Avalanche wallet

Closing Thoughts

MetaMask supports not only the Ethereum Network and Avalanche but also the entire Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) blockchain ecosystem. By following our instructions, you’re now ready to connect more chains and start exploring various DeFi platforms and DApps.

We hope our guide on how to connect Avalanche to MetaMask has helped you gain a fundamental understanding of the steps involved in linking Avalanche to MetaMask with minimal effort.

You’re welcome to visit our CoinStats blog to discover a broader perspective on decentralized finance and how it aims to empower people.

Investment Advice Disclaimer: No part of the content that CoinStats provides constitutes financial advice, legal advice, investment advice, or any other form of advice meant for your specific reliance for any purpose. Any use or reliance on our content is solely at your own risk and discretion. You should conduct your own research, review, analyze and verify our content before relying on them. 

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