MetaMask Review 2026: Features, Fees, Swaps, Staking, Security & Availability

MetaMask is one of those products that quietly became infrastructure. You don’t “join MetaMask” the way you join an exchange — you install it, generate a secret recovery phrase, and suddenly you have a passport to Web3.

That’s the heart of MetaMask: it’s a self-custodial wallet, meaning you control the keys. There’s no central account you’re asking permission to access — the wallet is the account. And that’s exactly why MetaMask is used everywhere from simple token swaps to DeFi, NFTs, and on-chain governance.

 

Quick platform snapshot

Category	MetaMask at a glance
Launched	2016
Creators (MetaMask)	Aaron Davis and Dan Finlay
Developer	Consensys (CEO: Joseph Lubin)
What it is	Self-custodial wallet for Web3 (extension + mobile) + MetaMask Portfolio web app
Core features	Wallet, dApp connections, in-app swaps, bridging, staking, NFTs, security tooling, Snaps
KYC	Not required to use the wallet itself; “KYC to use MetaMask” prompts are treated as scams
Key fees	Network fees (gas) + MetaMask Swaps fee 0.875% (included in the quote)
Restricted regions	Limited by U.S. sanctions compliance via blockchain service providers (see Availability)

1) Background: history, founders, leadership

MetaMask launched in 2016 and was created by Aaron Davis and Dan Finlay. The wallet is developed by Consensys, a major Ethereum software company led by CEO Joseph Lubin.

MetaMask itself is best understood as a product division rather than a traditional “company with a CEO you trade with.” The operational reality is: MetaMask is a self-custody wallet product, built and maintained by a larger organization (Consensys), with product features delivered through the wallet app, the Portfolio dashboard, and an ecosystem of integrations.

2) Licensing and regulation: what “regulated” means for a self-custody wallet

MetaMask is not a centralized exchange and does not custody user funds on its own balance sheet. That changes the compliance picture:

• No custodial account: MetaMask doesn’t “hold your deposits.”
• No standard KYC just to use the wallet: there’s no default identity onboarding to create a wallet.
• Regulation lives at the edges: when you buy crypto with fiat, use certain third-party services, or connect to regulated rails, the provider may impose its own eligibility rules — but that’s not the same as the wallet requiring KYC to exist.

MetaMask is very explicit on one point: it will never ask you to “verify” your wallet via KYC in emails or messages. If you see that, it’s treated as a scam attempt.

3) Full list of MetaMask products and services (complete catalog)

A) Core wallet (extension + mobile)

• Create/import wallets using a secret recovery phrase
• Send & receive tokens on supported networks
• Token and account management (multiple accounts, balances, activity)
• Secure login + key vault style storage inside the app experience
• Connection to dApps (approve transactions and signatures)

B) MetaMask Mobile: built-in dApp browser

A dedicated in-app browser to connect to dApps directly from your phone (instead of relying on external mobile browsers).

C) MetaMask Portfolio (the web dashboard)

Portfolio is MetaMask’s “command center” experience where you can:

• Track and manage assets across networks
• Buy and sell (where supported through providers)
• Swap tokens
• Bridge tokens across chains
• Stake supported assets

D) Swaps (token exchange inside MetaMask)

• In-wallet swaps that aggregate liquidity sources and show quotes before you confirm
• Bridging can be executed through the swaps flow (cross-chain swaps / bridge + swap in one path)

E) Bridge (cross-chain transfers)

MetaMask’s bridge experience finds routes to move assets between supported networks, including “bridge and swap” in a single transaction flow where applicable.

F) Staking and Earn

MetaMask provides staking flows through Portfolio:

• Stake ETH through MetaMask Staking
• Stake MATIC where available (notably, MATIC staking is stated as available only to users outside the United States)

MetaMask also describes multiple staking modes for ETH (including pooled staking and validator staking with defined deposit ranges per validator).

G) NFTs and collectibles

Portfolio and the wallet experience support viewing and managing NFTs (availability depends on network support and the specific NFT standard).

H) MetaMask Snaps (plugins / mini-apps inside MetaMask)

Snaps extend MetaMask beyond its default capabilities:

• Add support for additional networks (including non-EVM integrations via Snaps)
• Add security and anti-phishing functionality
• Add notifications, transaction insights, and other modular features

In short: Snaps turn MetaMask into a customizable platform, not just a fixed wallet.

I) Developer and ecosystem tooling

MetaMask provides a developer stack for dApps to connect users to the wallet (SDK and developer documentation).

J) MetaMask Card (where available)

MetaMask also offers a payment card product linked to the wallet, positioned for spending crypto in everyday purchases (availability depends on rollout and region).

4) Fees and costs: what you actually pay

MetaMask’s costs come from two places: the blockchain, and MetaMask’s own swap fee.

Network fees (gas)

• Sending tokens, bridging, swapping on-chain, minting NFTs, and interacting with DeFi contracts all require network fees, paid to validators/miners.

MetaMask also publishes educational guidance on how gas fees work (base fee, priority fee, gas limits, and network differences).

MetaMask Swaps fee

When you use MetaMask’s built-in Swaps feature, the quote includes:

• Quote rate (exchange rate)
• Network fee (gas)
• MetaMask fee: 0.875% (automatically factored into each quote)

Bridging executed through the swaps flow follows the same “quote + network fee + MetaMask fee” logic, with routes sourced through bridge aggregators/providers.

Buy/Sell via Portfolio

Buying and selling crypto through Portfolio is typically routed through providers and payment rails. Fees can include provider pricing and payment processing fees, shown during the flow before you confirm.

5) KYC & AML: what MetaMask requires (and what it doesn’t)

MetaMask’s stance is unusually direct:

• MetaMask does not require you to KYC to “use your wallet.”
• MetaMask states it will never ask you to verify your wallet or submit ID via email or direct messages — and treats such requests as scams.

However, some integrated services may require verification depending on the provider:

• Fiat buy/sell often involves regulated payment rails that may require identity checks.

6) Availability and restricted regions

MetaMask’s ability to connect to blockchain infrastructure can be impacted by sanctions compliance enforced by U.S.-based service providers. MetaMask’s support guidance lists the regions currently restricted under U.S. sanctions compliance controls for those providers:

Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk.

This is a practical point: the wallet is self-custody, but the network access layer (RPC / infrastructure) can still be geofenced to comply with sanctions.

7) Security and safety: what MetaMask protects — and what it can’t

MetaMask is designed to make self-custody usable, but self-custody still means you carry the risk.

What MetaMask does well:

• Wallet controls, key vault concepts, and secure transaction confirmation flows
• Built-in warnings and education
• Snaps can add extra security and phishing protection layers

What MetaMask cannot do for you:

• It can’t reverse on-chain transactions
• It can’t recover funds if your recovery phrase is lost or exposed
• It can’t protect you if you approve a malicious transaction you didn’t read carefully

The most honest rule in Web3 still applies: your signature is your permission.

Who MetaMask is best for

• Users who want a single wallet for dApps, DeFi, NFTs, and on-chain activity
• People who value self-custody but still want convenience (swaps, bridge, staking)
• Web3 builders and power users who want extensibility via Snaps
• Anyone who wants cross-network tooling without living in multiple wallets

FAQ

1. Is MetaMask custodial?
   No. MetaMask is a self-custodial wallet — you control your keys and recovery phrase.
2. Who created MetaMask?
   MetaMask was created by Aaron Davis and Dan Finlay and is developed by Consensys.
3. Does MetaMask require KYC?
   Not to use the wallet. MetaMask explicitly warns that “verify your wallet / KYC” messages are scams. Some integrated services (like fiat purchases) may require verification depending on the provider.
4. What fee does MetaMask charge for swaps?
   MetaMask’s built-in Swaps feature includes a 0.875% MetaMask fee in each quote, plus network fees (gas).
5. Does MetaMask support bridging?
   Yes. Bridging can be done through MetaMask’s swaps/bridge flow, which finds routes across networks and can support cross-chain swapping.
6. Can I stake in MetaMask?
   Yes. MetaMask Portfolio supports staking flows, including ETH and MATIC (with MATIC staking stated as available only to users outside the U.S.).
7. What are MetaMask Snaps?
   Snaps are mini-app plugins that extend MetaMask with new capabilities such as extra security, notifications, and support for additional networks.
8. Which regions are restricted?
   MetaMask’s support guidance lists restricted regions enforced through sanctions compliance by U.S.-based service providers: Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk.
9. Does MetaMask have a mobile dApp browser?
   Yes. MetaMask Mobile includes a built-in browser designed to connect to dApps directly on a smartphone.
10. Is MetaMask an exchange?
    No. MetaMask is a wallet interface. Swaps, buys, sells, and some earn features are offered through wallet flows and integrated providers, not a centralized order book.