Supported Chains & Tokens — What MetaMask Handles

Quick summary

Which networks can you use with MetaMask? Short answer: Ethereum and EVM-compatible networks are supported natively, and you can add other EVM chains manually. For non-EVM chains (for example Solana or Bitcoin) the wallet does not offer native account support (see solana-limitations and unsupported-networks).

I’ve been using this software wallet daily for months across desktop and mobile. What I’ve found: it’s flexible for multi-chain DeFi if you understand how to add networks and tokens, but it’s still a hot wallet — convenience trades off some security.

Which chains and token standards are supported?

• EVM-compatible blockchains: native support after adding the network (examples: Polygon, BSC, Avalanche, Arbitrum, Optimism, Fantom, Cronos). See specific add guides: add-polygon, add-bsc-network, add-avalanche, add-arbitrum-optimism, add-optimism, add-fantom, add-cronos.
• Token standards: ERC-20 for fungible tokens, ERC-721 and ERC-1155 for NFTs (on EVM chains).
• Layer 2 (L2) networks: supported when you add their RPC (Arbitrum, Optimism, zk-rollups that expose EVM APIs). See layer2-networks and gas-fees-l2.
• Non-EVM chains (Solana, Bitcoin, many gaming chains): not natively supported. There are community workarounds and experimental plugins, but they carry limitations and risk. See solana-limitations and unsupported-networks.

Chain category	Examples	MetaMask support	Notes
Ethereum & EVM-compatible	Ethereum, Polygon, BSC, Avalanche, Arbitrum, Optimism, Fantom	Yes (add via built-in list or custom RPC)	Supports ERC tokens & NFTs, native coin balances appear automatically
Layer 2 (EVM)	Arbitrum, Optimism, zkEVMs	Yes	Lower gas fees; add network or use dApp-suggested RPC
Non-EVM chains	Solana, Bitcoin	Not natively	Use dedicated wallets or bridging (higher risk)

Native coins vs tokens — how they appear in the software wallet

Native chain coins (for example ETH on Ethereum, MATIC on Polygon) show up as your account balance for that network. Tokens created on a chain (ERC-20, ERC-721, ERC-1155) appear separately under Assets or Collectibles.

Short and practical: if you switch networks and the balance looks empty, check whether you’re on the right network (I’ve lost time switching to the wrong chain — lesson learned). And yes, native coins and token balances can coexist for the same account address.

How to add a custom network (step by step)

1. Open the extension or mobile app and go to Settings → Networks (or Network dropdown → Add Network).
2. Choose “Add Custom RPC” or “Add Network.”
3. Enter: Network name, RPC URL, Chain ID, Currency symbol, Block explorer URL.
4. Double-check the RPC and Chain ID against the official docs for that chain.
5. Save and switch to the new network.

For a guided example, see add-custom-network or the chain-specific guides like add-polygon and add-avalanche.

Adding custom tokens (step by step)

1. Switch to the network where the token lives.
2. Open Assets → Import tokens (or Add Token).
3. Paste the token contract address (the wallet often auto-fills symbol and decimals).
4. Confirm and the token should appear in your list.

If a token doesn’t show balance after import, you may be on the wrong network or the token uses a non-standard contract. See token-management and tokens-portfolio.

DeFi, swaps, staking and dApp connections

MetaMask provides an injected provider for browser dApps and an in-app browser on mobile. That means connecting to Uniswap-like dApps is usually one click. The wallet also offers an in-wallet swap function that queries multiple routes and shows estimated gas fees.

In my experience the swap feature saves a step when I need a quick trade, but for large orders I compare routes on a DEX aggregator first. But be careful with slippage and gas settings (you can set priority fees and max fee where supported). See in-wallet-swap and connect-dapps.

Staking? The wallet does not act as a staking validator manager. You connect to staking dApps (liquid staking providers or protocol UIs) to stake tokens. See staking-via-metamask.

NFTs, portfolio tracking, and hiding spam assets

The mobile app includes an NFT/gallery view (experience varies by chain). On desktop the extension will show collectibles for many ERC-721/ERC-1155 tokens but the UI is less polished than specialized NFT wallets or marketplaces.

If you see spam NFTs or token airdrops you didn’t request, you can hide the token or remove the asset from view (this does not remove an on-chain ownership record). See nft-management for workflow.

Security, backups, and token approvals

This is a hot wallet for day-to-day DeFi. That means convenience — and trade-offs.

• Backup: The wallet issues a seed phrase (recovery phrase). Write it down, store offline, and never share it. You can also export private keys per account in a pinch; prefer hardware wallets for larger balances. See backup-recovery.
• Recovery: If you lose your phone but have your seed phrase, you can restore accounts. If you lose both phone and seed phrase, funds are unrecoverable.
• Token approvals: dApps can request token allowance (a token approval). Approving “infinite” allowance is common but risky. I once approved an unlimited allowance by mistake; learned to check approvals and revoke when not needed. Use the wallet’s connected sites panel and approval managers (or third-party revoker UIs) to remove allowances. See token-approvals-revoke.
• Biometric lock: available on mobile. The extension uses a password and OS protection.
• Phishing: the wallet includes some site warnings, but always verify contract addresses and use block explorer links before confirming transactions.

Cross-chain bridging, Layer 2s, and smart contract wallets

MetaMask itself doesn’t provide a one-click cross-chain bridge inside the core UI. You connect to bridge dApps to move assets across chains (that introduces additional smart contract and counterparty risk). See cross-chain-bridges.

Layer 2 networks that expose an EVM interface work well once added as networks (lower gas fees, faster confirmations). See layer2-networks and gas-fees-l2.

Account abstraction and smart contract wallets (gasless transactions, session keys, batched txs) are primarily features of smart contract wallet projects. MetaMask acts as a signer/provider and can interact with these wallets when supported; it is not itself a smart contract account manager by default. See smart-contract-wallets-aa.

Who this software wallet is for — and who should look elsewhere

Who this wallet fits:

• Active DeFi users who switch between Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains.
• Mobile-first users who need an in-app dApp browser and WalletConnect compatibility.
• Users who want a simple way to add custom RPCs and manage ERC tokens.

Who should look elsewhere:

• Users who need native Solana or Bitcoin accounts (use a dedicated wallet for those chains).
• People who want built-in multisig wallets or smart contract wallet features without third-party integrations.
• Users storing large, long-term holdings without a hardware wallet — move funds to a hardware wallet for higher security.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Is it safe to keep crypto in a hot wallet? A: Hot wallets are convenient for daily use. For large sums, combine a hardware wallet or cold storage. Treat hot wallets like an everyday banking app — useful but not a vault.

Q: How do I revoke token approvals? A: Use the wallet’s connected sites/permissions panel to disconnect dApps, and use an approval revoker interface to remove allowances (see token-approvals-revoke).

Q: Does MetaMask support Solana or Bitcoin? A: Not natively. For non-EVM chains use a dedicated wallet or check community plugins with caution (see solana-limitations and unsupported-networks).

Q: What happens if I lose my phone? A: Restore from your seed phrase on another device. If you don’t have the seed phrase, funds cannot be recovered.

Conclusion & next steps

MetaMask supports Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains and token standards out of the box; adding custom networks and tokens is straightforward but requires care (RPC URLs, chain IDs, and contract addresses must be correct). If you’re active in DeFi and use multiple EVM networks, this software wallet is a practical choice — with the usual hot-wallet trade-offs.

Ready to set up? Follow the step-by-step guides: Install extension or Install mobile app. And if you want help adding a specific chain, check the chain-specific pages like add-polygon and add-arbitrum-optimism.