MetaMask goes multi-chain with native Bitcoin support

MetaMask has officially launched native Bitcoin support today, allowing users to hold, buy, send, and swap Bitcoin (BTC) directly within the app, without needing wrapped tokens or external services. 

This follows the wallet’s ongoing transition into a true multichain platform, after previously adding support for other blockchains, including Solana and various EVM networks. 

The update generates native Bitcoin addresses for users, supports SegWit transactions, and will add Taproot compatibility in a future release. Users can purchase Bitcoin via credit card, Apple Pay, PayPal, or bank transfers, and swap BTC with other supported assets directly in the wallet.

MetaMask expands beyond Ethereum with native Bitcoin support and incentives

MetaMask’s transition from an Ethereum-only wallet to a multichain platform occurred nearly a year after the wallet first announced it would introduce support for Bitcoin, marking the beginning of its expansion beyond Ethereum. The Bitcoin integration enables users to hold and transact the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, eliminating the need for wrapped tokens or third-party wallets.

“We’re excited to announce that Bitcoin is now supported on MetaMask. This means you can trade and manage BTC alongside Ethereum, Solana, Monad, and Sei assets, all inside your MetaMask wallet,” a statement from the company reads.

The network expansion comes amid a flurry of recent feature enhancements, as it seeks to stay near the top of a competitive wallet landscape.

Just a few months ago, the wallet launched its own stablecoin, mUSD, on Ethereum and the layer-2 scaling network, Linea. Then, in October, it unveiled native support for swaps on Hyperliquid, allowing traders to easily place long or short bets on the popular Perps DEX.

Earlier this month, MetaMask rolled out a native Polymarket integration, enabling users to place predictions on sports, crypto, and politics directly within the wallet. Users can now also trade Bitcoin after updating to the latest version of MetaMask.

Those who swap into BTC will earn MetaMask reward points as part of a $30 million community rewards program, designed to support long-term engagement ahead of the wallet’s native token launch. Following the rollout of Bitcoin, MetaMask plans to add more networks in 2026.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $86,332.54. The world’s largest cryptocurrency has fallen 3.2% over the last 24 hours. It’s 32% off its record high of more than $126,000 reached in early October. Major cryptocurrencies fell during U.S. morning hours Monday, continuing a now crystal-clear pattern of relatively poor performance while American stocks trade.

Bitcoin’s underperformance during U.S. trading hours initially suggests weak demand from American investors, although the structure of spot Bitcoin ETFs, launched in January 2024, may also be influencing activity.

“Since the iShares Bitcoin ETF IBIT began trading, had you only owned it after hours (buy the close, sell the next open), it’s up 222%,” Bespoke Investment said in an X post. “Had you only owned intraday (buy the open, sell the close), it’s down 40.5%.”

Crypto stocks also began the week significantly lower, with both Strategy (MSTR) and Circle (CRCL) down about 7%. Coinbase (COIN) dropped by more than 5%, while trading platforms Robinhood (HOOD) and eToro (ETOR) experienced smaller declines of approximately 2%. Brokerage Gemini (GEMI), which soared late last week on approval for adding prediction markets to its offerings, pulled back 10% Monday.

MetaMask’s Bitcoin integration drives on-chain growth

Industry observers view the integration as a significant convenience boost, expected to generate higher on-chain activity and extend MetaMask’s reach into additional market segments, including both institutional and retail users. 

The competition could apply pressure to offer multichain offerings to match MetaMask’s rising ecosystem. Although Bitcoin offers a different level of investment benefit, some experts argue that multichain wallets introduce increased security and operational complexities; they emphasize the importance of keeping wallets updated and safeguarding private keys and recovery phrases. 

Now, as Bitcoin is native to MetaMask, the wallet presents itself as a central hub for a range of digital assets for users online, as well as within the Web3 ecosystem, while also pushing the boundaries of cross-chain interoperability.

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