Access Web3 with MetaMask
MetaMask is a great first wallet when wanting to connect with Web3 technologies, here is a tutorial to show how MetaMask can be installed as a browser extension in Brave.
What is MetaMask? It is a cryptowallet for accessing the Ethereum blockchain, when purchasing cryptocurrency MetaMask is a wallet for daily spending and for storing Web3 NFT’s, digital assets and tokens.
1. Open the Brave web browser
Open the Brave web browser and in the address bar search for metamask, it should populate with the option for the chrome web store. The full search term to find it would be ‘metamask brave extension‘, generally just typing the single word should find it.
2. Add to Browser
Brave is built on Chromium and as a result integrates with the Chrome store, this is an example of how Google controls projects, similar to it’s hold on mobile with Android.
From within the Chrome web store click on ‘Add to Browser’
3. Allow Extension Installation
Brave will then ask if it’s ok to install the extension, it advises that this extension can see everything on your web browser. This is why I install it on Brave which isn’t a browser for personal information.
From the top of the screen click on add extension from the pop up after reading the warning about the data the extension can access: everything!
Web3 Digital Assets
Digital assets have become a standard commodity, what were once cd’s became mp3’s, newspapers were forced online, physical money has been replaced with a tap, credit used to prevent it from running dry. NFT’s can be kept in a metamask wallet before transferring to cold storage.
4. MetaMask Get Started
Once installed metaMask should open in a new tab, if it doesn’t then it will be available via extensions tab towards the top right of the window.
After having your mouse pointer followed around the screen, clcick on the get started
5. Take Note: Recovery Code
This is the most critical step in the setting up of the wallet, there is no reset password option when dealing with cryptography. The code on this screen is required if the passcode is forgotten
If you do not have access to this code never place anything of value inside the crypto wallet
On the following page it will ask for either a recover key, which would be a twelve word string that can recover previous wallets, this is a common feature in cryptographically secured wallets. Hashing variables may vary. If this is installing metamask for the first time then select Create a Wallet On the following page there are the terms and conditions you have to decide if you accept, followed on the next page for setting a strong password
6. Save Recovery Key
Now comes the important part, writing down and storing securely the recovery key in a safe place. If the password is ever lost then this seed phrase can be used to recover the wallet
Write down the recovery code and store it somewhere safe
7. Web3 Integration
Now in the top right hand corner of the window there will be the MetaMask logo and when interacting with Web3 enable websites MetaMask will prompt to connect to the Ethereum blockchain in a multitude of ways. Next step:
Get an Unstoppable Domain using MetaMask
Metamask
Engaging with the Ethereum blockchain requires specialised tools and a popular browser extension called metamask allows sites with web3 integration way of connecting browsers to blockchains. Here is a guide on how to check the gas fees for creating a smart chain enabled wallet
