Snaps To Facilitate a Multichain Future for MetaMask

Metamask is getting another upgrade.

And no, not the version of the application (yet). Instead, it is getting an extended functionality called Snaps. Accordingly, this will allow users to interact with different blockchains and non-EVM protocols like Bitcoin and Solana, from inside their MetaMask wallets.¹

Does that sound something good?

Let's take a closer look at what Snaps are and what enhancements or additions may come to the MetaMask wallet in the future.

MetaMask Snaps

• This is intended for developers. The aim of Snaps is to create a permissionless ecosystem and pave the way for developers to "make MetaMask more extensible, giving them the opportunity to scale and build new features into MetaMask, and make them available to users and DApps."²

• Snaps will allow them to "introduce snippets of codes to extend the functionality of the MetaMask wallet and create completely new kinds of DApps intended for their users."³

• With Snaps, developers can "go multi-chain, beyond the Ethereum protocol. They can integrate any scaling solution, and make exploring Layer 2s accessible to everyone. They can connect more external APIs into MetaMask. They can empower users with more ways to protect their data and employ anti-phishing solutions. They can enable authentication, privacy, and consent in ways that keep users in control."⁴

Snap is a JavaScript program (pre-release software) that runs in an isolated environment that customizes the wallet experience. It has access to a limited set of capabilities, determined by the permissions the user granted them during installation. It is an open-source system that any developer can use to safely extend the functionality of MetaMask to create new Web3 end-user experiences.⁵

"Snaps, will function a lot like an Apple App Store for the crypto wallet, allowing third-party developers to launch new decentralized applications (DApps) — dubbed Snaps — that expand MetaMask’s functionality. The first releases of Snaps will undergo security checks and be whitelisted by Consensys developers but they plan to make it permissionless in the future."⁶

In simple words, Snaps is an open-source program or software that allows developers (outside of Consensys, the company behind MetaMask) to scale the wallet, add more features to it, and expand its use to non-EVM chains. The possibilities are endless! It is quite exciting to see what else will come to the wallet.

Expected Features (MetaMask Wallet)

• Multichain Support (Interoperability)

  According to Simon Morris of Consensys, the goal of the first release of Snaps is to make the wallet interoperable beyond EVM chains - that is, for the wallet to support non-native blockchains. He mentioned the upgrade to the MetaMask wallet will come around later this year, and "users will be able to download third-party extensions to their MetaMask wallets which will allow them to use their wallets with non-EVM chains like Bitcoin, Solana, Avalanche, and Starknet."⁷
  
  

• Improved Web 3 Functionality

  Snaps aim to make the user experience better and address user concerns about whether or not they are signing legitimate transactions. Snaps "allow third parties to create transaction insights and potentially warn users of signing dubious transactions with unwanted consequences."⁸
  
  

• Internal Messages & Updates

  Apparently, Snaps also enables developers to send updates or messages to users internally on MetaMask. So it looks like when the functionality comes live, we (users) might be receiving messages from projects within our wallets.

Summary

MetaMask Snaps basically allows developers to build whatever features they want into the MetaMask wallet and they no longer have to rely on Consensys to roll out features and updates.⁹

Third-party developers can do that through MetaMask Flask, "the experimental playground for developers, where new or proposed features can be rolled out and tested before deploying them to the general public."¹⁰

While Snaps is intended for developers only, some features are expected to be integrated into the wallet toward the end of this year.

• MetaMask wallet supports Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains at the moment. But with Snaps, it looks like users will be able to use the wallet on any blockchain in the near future.

• It remains to be seen how it is going to solve the concern of users being confused or intimidated when confirming transactions.

_{For information only. Interested users or developers are invited to try Snaps through MetaMask Flask, and user guides are provided in the following resources:}

• _{MetaMask Flask}
• _{Snaps Tutorials}
• _{Getting Started}
• _GitHub
• _{Snaps JSON-RPC API}