Consensys, one of the largest Ethereum blockchain developers and the maker of the well-known MetaMask cryptocurrency wallet, announced the launch of a significant new feature dubbed “MetaMask Snaps,” which will let users choose from a variety of app-like or add-on customizations for their browser extension.
Snaps, as defined by the business, are “new features and functionality, created by third-party developers, that MetaMask users worldwide can install directly into their wallet.” Prior to this new development, MetaMask users could only opt-in to new features created by MetaMask developers. However, users can now select from a wider range outside of the MetaMask landscape.
At the time of the public debut, users will have a choice of 34 Snaps, each of which offers a variety of capabilities, including notifications that tell users about decentralised applications in their MetaMask accounts, clearer transaction details, and interoperability with blockchains other than EVM.
For instance, the Solana blockchain-focused cryptocurrency wallet service Solflare is introducing “Solana Snaps,” which will let MetaMask users manage their Solana holdings from within their MetaMask accounts.
According to a press release from Solflare, “using Solana traditionally required installing dedicated wallets due to its different architecture.” The snaps will be permissionless, which means that creators retain ownership of their works and their source code and that MetaMask will not need to approve them like it does with Apple’s App Store.
“With Snaps, I think what really makes it interesting is that it’s something that you couldn’t do before with a wallet,” emphasised Christian Montoya, a senior product manager at MetaMask