How to connect BNB Smart Chain to MetaMask

MetaMask is a popular cryptocurrency wallet that connects to the BNB Smart Chain (BSC). However, the integration must be added manually in the wallet’s settings. This easy wallet configuration, covered in this article, gives users extended decentralized finance (DeFi) accessibility. 

Learn how to connect the the BNB Smart Chain to MetaMask for smart contract interactions, decentralized application (DApp) and decentralized exchange (DEX) access.

The MetaMask wallet serves millions of crypto users, allowing them to store, exchange and purchase cryptocurrencies and access DApps and DeFi projects. MetaMask supports Ethereum and Ethereum-based tokens by default, but wallet users can add further blockchain integration if the network is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). BNB Smart Chain is one such compatible network from the cryptocurrency exchange Binance.

The BNB Smart Chain also has hundreds of thousands of users using its DeFi projects, DApps, DEXs, and its blockchain and nonfungible token-based games. Although Ethereum is the network with the most DApps, the BNB Smart Chain is gaining adoption alongside Tron and other smart contract blockchains.

Prerequisites for connecting BNB Smart Chain and MetaMask

Before connecting to the BNB Smart Chain, users must have their MetaMask wallet set up correctly.

Install MetaMask

MetaMask users may already have their wallets set up and functioning. If not, the first step is to install MetaMask, which is available as a browser extension for Chrome and other browsers and as a mobile application for Android and iOS.

The MetaMask wallet, with its native Ethereum compatibility, can be downloaded from the MetaMask website or appropriate app store. The next step is to create a MetaMask wallet.

Set up MetaMask wallet security

After MetaMask is installed, a strong password is required, and users should create a secret recovery phrase, known as a seed phrase, that must be stored safely. Recovery phrases are critical to digital asset management and security. In this case, the phrase is the only way to access a wallet if a password is forgotten or access to a device is lost.

Once the password and seed phrase are set up, users should be able to see their MetaMask wallet is ready to send and receive funds. At this point, a new blockchain network can be added to the MetaMask wallet.

A step-by-step guide to connecting BNB Smart Chain to MetaMask

MetaMask wallets are connected to the Ethereum blockchain by default. However, setting up the MetaMask connection to the BNB Smart Chain allows wallet users to use DApps only available on its network just as quickly. The process takes just a few quick steps.

These steps may vary depending on which browser or application is used but should provide a quick guide to connecting MetaMask to the Binance network.

Step 1: Open MetaMask and login

A basic MetaMask home screen will be displayed when a user logs in to their MetaMask wallet.

Step 2: Navigate to settings

Settings can usually be found via the user profile menu or icon in the top right-hand corner.

Step 3: Select “Networks,” then choose “Add Network”

In “Settings,” users will be able to navigate to “Networks” and then to “Add Network”

Step 4: Select BNB Smart Chain

Once “Add Network” is clicked, BNB Smart Chain can be selected from a list of available Ethereum-compatible networks using the “Add” function that appears to the right of the list entry.

Step 5: Check and approve the network details

MetaMask will ask if the user wants to add the network and display the network details. Choosing “Approve” will connect BNB Smart Chain to MetaMask.

Step 6: Switch to BNB Smart Chain to start using the network

Once “Approve” has been confirmed, users should see a “Network added successfully” message and an option to “Switch to BNB Chain” to begin using BNB Smart Chain DApps.

MetaMask users must remember transferring crypto funds from one blockchain network to another is impossible. For example, a user cannot transfer funds directly from BNB Smart Chain to Ethereum. BNB Smart Chain transfers can only be made between BNB Smart Chain wallets. The only exception is for those using a blockchain bridge designed for cross-chain transactions, i.e., to move funds between different blockchains.

When a user switches from Ethereum to BNB Smart Chain after connecting the new network, MetaMask will display the following message warning of the risk of permanent asset loss if a transfer of funds is attempted directly from one blockchain network to another.

Step 7: Add BNB to pay for BNB Smart Chain transaction fees

To use BNB Smart Chain with MetaMask, the network’s native crypto, BNB (BNB), must be added to the MetaMask wallet. It’s possible to withdraw BNB from a Binance account and deposit it to MetaMask using the BEP-20 network. MetaMask will display estimated fees for BNB Smart Chain transactions.

However, when withdrawing BNB from Binance, ensure that you select the BEP-20 (BSC) network option and double-check that you have the correct MetaMask wallet address for the BNB Smart Chain.

Once BNB Smart Chain is connected to MetaMask, its network DApps can be accessed as quickly as Ethereum DApps via the wallet. Users will navigate to a chosen BNB Smart Chain DApp website and connect their MetaMask wallet to start using the new DApp.