Binance Smart Chain is a platform chain that runs smart contracts on top of the Ethereum protocol. With smart contracts, this smart chain offers multiple possibilities to develop decentralized applications (DApps) using custom algorithms, which can be accessed by different operating systems and language platforms. 

This is a quick tutorial on how to add binance smart chain to Metamask. The steps are pretty simple and should be able to help anyone wanting to do the same.

What is Metamask?

Metamask is a browser extension for Google Chrome, Firefox, and Edge that enables you to easily manage your Ethereum wallet, access decentralized applications and browse the Web. 

A Chrome extension that allows users to interact with the Ethereum network and ERC20 tokens on their browser while they are browsing the web. The extension makes it easy to buy and sell Ether (ETH), which is the primary cryptocurrency used on the Ethereum blockchain.

This browser extension works by allowing you to send and receive transactions in real time via a secure connection between your browser and Metamask. It also allows users to create and manage multiple addresses, create custom wallets and access decentralized applications (DApps) on the Ethereum blockchain.

You can download Metamask from the Chrome Web Store or from the official website. To use it, you must first create an account on the Ethereum network and select a wallet where you will store your funds. Once you have done this, you can use Metamask to connect your browser to the Ethereum network and begin interacting with dApps.

Metamask’s goal is to provide an easy way for users to interact with Ethereum-based apps without having to use any external tools or plugins. Metamask works in conjunction with the Mist browser, which can be downloaded from the official website. You can download Metamask directly from its website here: https://metamask.io/download.

When you want to run a smart contract, you need something like MetaMask. If you want to run a smart contract, you can use the smart contract platform of your choice. The most popular is ethereum, but there are other options as well like Binance Smart Chain. 

What is Binance Smart Chain?

Launched by Binance to facilitate decentralized trading through Binance decentralized exchange, Binance Smart Chain is a blockchain that helps developers to create their own decentralized applications using smart contracts. Binance Smart Chain was developed to handle some functions that the Binance native Chain can not. 

Although Binance Chain and Binance Smart Chain are designed to work in unison, they are different blockchains. Binance Smart Chain is an independent blockchain and will function properly even if the Binance Chain went offline.

Assets can be transferred easily between the two chains as there is cross-chain compatibility between them, thereby combining the fast trading abilities of the Binance Chain with the smart contract functionality of the Binance Smart Chain.

BSC network uses a unique consensus algorithm called Proof of Staked Authority: a combination of proof of stake algorithm and proof of authority algorithm.

Some features of this blockchain network are; low transaction fees, increased performance, can operate  ported over from Ethereum, strong ecosystem, Cross-chain DeFi tools that improve interoperability, compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine.

Why do we need the Binance Smart Chain network?

MetaMask was designed by default to only work with projects on the Ethereum blockchain network. If you wish to use decentralized applications built on other blockchains, it has to be set up by adding the corresponding RPC(s).

Binance Smart Chain network is a very great alternative to Ethereum blockchain network, not just because it is backed by the world’s largest crypto exchange (Binance) and has a very strong community but also you get to enjoy lower fees, faster transaction speeds, and easy asset deployment.

So, you need to add the BSC network to your MetaMask wallet before you can access decentralized applications built on Binance Smart Chain. 

You can not store tokens that are on Binance Smart Chain network (BEP-20 Tokens) on your MetaMask wallet, if you have not added the BSC network to it.

How to add Binance Smart Chain to MetaMask 

Adding binance smart chain (BSC) to metamask can be done with the following steps,

1. Install MetaMask

Once you have downloaded the extension, you can simply add it to your browser.

Toggle the extension by accessing your browser’s settings. When you head to “More Tools” you will find “Extensions”, click it.

2. Open the MetaMask Wallet

After installing and setting up your MetaMask wallet, open the wallet and click on the three dots on the top-right corner of the screen.

3. Add Binance Smart Chain network information 

Your MetaMask wallet is ready and open, now is the time to add up the Binance Smart Chain network, go to settings. Select the ‘Networks’ option and click on ‘Add Network’.

You will be asked to enter some information about the network that you want to add. For Binance Smart Chain, fill out the following information properly:

Mainnet (This is probably the one you are looking for)

Network Name: Smart Chain

New RPC URL: https://bsc-dataseed.binance.org/

ChainID: 56

Symbol: BNB

Block Explorer URL: https://bscscan.com

Testnet

Network Name: Smart Chain – Testnet

New RPC URL: https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.binance.org:8545/

ChainID: 97

Symbol: BNB

Block Explorer URL: https://testnet.bscscan.com

Once all the Binance Smart Chain network information has been correctly inputted onto your MetaMask wallet, you can go ahead and click on “Save”.

4. You have successfully added another network, Binance Smart Chain to your MetaMask wallet, you can now start transacting on the network.

Conclusion 

Metamask is just like a hardware wallet but digital, it separates your private keys from the internet. It is easy to add and use metamask for Ethereum Smart Chain, Binance Smart Chain, and any other blockchain networks. Adding more networks on your MetaMask wallet allows you to do more on it, accessing decentralized applications across different blockchains and storing tokens deployed on different blockchain networks. 

Adding Binance Smart Chain network to your MetaMask wallet allows you to do ‘BSC transactions’ with your metamask at a lower gas.

Check out our guides on adding some other blockchain networks to MetaMask wallet;

How to add an Avalanche network to Metamask.

How to add a Polygon network to Metamask.