cryptonews.com
The MetaMask Snaps plugin, which provides access to the popular MetaMask wallet’s 30 million monthly active users, is now available on the open-source, proof-of-stake network Hedera.
This Hedera Wallet Snap plugin, built by Tuum Technologies, enables developers, companies, and individuals to enjoy new benefits beyond MetaMask’s native features, said the press release. Developers can now integrate Hedera’s functionality into MetaMask-based applications.
Donald Bullers, Founder and CEO of Tuum Technologies, told Cryptonews that the prevailing market conditions provide “a significant validation of the enduring presence of decentralized technologies” powered by distributed ledger technology (DLT).
“This acknowledgment is expected to broaden adoption among a previously skeptical demographic, leading to a substantial increase in crypto wallet account activations.”
Consequently, there is a heightened demand for ongoing product innovation in the space to meet the growing needs of users, Bullers said.
Enabling Access to Range of Networks through MetaMask
Tuum Technologies is a software engineering company and a developer of open-source, decentralized identity solutions.
It created Snaps, which extends the functionality of MetaMask by enabling developers to create custom plugins.
The integration of Hedera into an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), multichain wallet “opens up numerous doors” for developers, users, and companies to interact with the Hedera network directly through MetaMask applications.
Bullers told Cryptonews that,
“The introduction of Hedera’s native functionality to MetaMask’s 30 million MAUs not only increases interoperability but also extends access to a diverse range of networks, including Hedera.”
This amalgamation, said he, combines MetaMask’s robust security features and Hedera’s speed and cost-effectiveness, “elevating the overall user experience.”
It “paves the way for user experience efficiencies,” said the announcement, enabling anyone to send HBAR to Hedera and EVM addresses. It also enables the retrieval of account information and viewing of token balances.
More Features Coming Soon
The Hedera Wallet Snap eliminates the need for Hedera JSON-RPC Relay. This allows the plugin users to retrieve account information from the Hedera Consensus Node and the Hedera Mirror Node.
Per CEO Bullers,
“For developers and companies currently operating MetaMask-enabled applications or planning to build them, this integration offers an alternative to Hedera JSON RPC Relay and opens doors to Hedera’s full suite of capabilities.”
The use of native integration, as opposed to relying on Hedera JSON RPC Relay, allows developers to support features from the Hedera Token Service (HTS) and extend their capabilities into other network services. These include File Service, Smart Contract Service, and Consensus Service.
Bullers noted that the initial release comprises basic functionalities. The team is actively working on incorporating advanced features in the coming months. This will include viewing transaction history and staking/unstaking HBAR to and from Hedera Network nodes.
Kiran Pachhai, Co-founder of Tuum Technologies, commented that the Hedera Wallet Snap is “a sophisticated plugin that empowers developers to enhance the capabilities of their applications beyond the native features of MetaMask.”
Shayne Higdon, Co-founder and CEO of The HBAR Foundation added that this is just a first step for the plugin. Specifically as more features and functionalities will be announced in the coming months.
Hedera Wallet Snap can be installed from MetaMask Open Beta. It is available on GitHub as a JavaScript NPM package.