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How To Add Binance Smart Chain To Metamask: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

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If you‘re venturing into the world of decentralized finance (DeFi), you‘ve likely come across two platforms – Metamask and Binance Smart Chain.

Metamask is the most popular cryptocurrency wallet used to interact with DeFi applications. On the other hand, Binance Smart Chain (BSC) is a blockchain network optimized for DeFi.

By connecting these two together, you open up a whole new array of DeFi opportunities.

In this beginner‘s guide, I‘ll walk you through step-by-step on how to add Binance Smart Chain to your Metamask Wallet.

Here‘s what I‘ll cover:

  • What is Metamask and Binance Smart Chain
  • Benefits of connecting Metamask to BSC
  • Step-by-step setup guide with screenshots
  • How to get BNB for transaction fees
  • How to use Metamask on Binance Smart Chain
  • Troubleshooting tips

I‘ll try to explain each step in simple terms even if you‘re completely new to crypto. My goal is to get you up and running with Metamask + BSC quickly!

So let‘s get started…

What is Metamask?

Metamask is a cryptocurrency wallet that allows you to store, send, and receive ERC-20 tokens as well as interact with decentralized applications (dApps) built on the Ethereum blockchain.

Some key things about Metamask:

  • It comes as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Brave and as a mobile app for Android and iOS.

  • It gives you complete control over your private keys unlike an exchange. Keys are encrypted and stored locally on your device.

  • It allows you to switch between multiple blockchain networks like Ethereum mainnet, testnets and now Binance Smart Chain.

  • It has become the gateway to interacting with DeFi apps as it can connect seamlessly with dApps in your browser.

Over 21 million users and counting have downloaded Metamask to date making it the #1 crypto wallet in the world.

And unlike online wallets or exchanges, your private keys are securely controlled by you alone with Metamask. This gives you enhanced security and privacy.

Now let‘s look at what Binance Smart Chain is…

What is Binance Smart Chain?

Binance Smart Chain (BSC) is a blockchain network built by the popular crypto exchange Binance.

It runs parallel to Binance Chain and is specifically optimized for smart contracts and decentralized apps or dApps.

Some key things about BSC:

  • It‘s EVM-compatible – this means it works seamlessly with Ethereum tools like Metamask.

  • It offers high throughput with blocktimes of 3-5 seconds. This allows for fast and cheap transactions.

  • It uses BNB as gas for transaction fees. This is way cheaper than Ethereum‘s gas fees.

  • It supports all the features of Ethereum like smart contracts, DeFi apps, NFTs, DAOs etc.

The low transaction fees and EVM-compatibility makes Binance Smart Chain ideal for DeFi apps. That‘s why connecting it to Metamask unlocks huge benefits as we‘ll see next.

Benefits of Connecting Metamask to Binance Smart Chain

Here are some of the key benefits you get when you connect your Metamask wallet to BSC:

1. Access DeFi apps on BSC

Binance Smart Chain is home to many DeFi apps and DEXs like PancakeSwap, ApeSwap, BakerySwap etc.

By connecting Metamask to BSC, you can directly access these dApps right from your Metamask browser extension.

For example, you can trade tokens on PancakeSwap, provide liquidity, use lending protocols, stake in farms, and more!

2. Very low transaction fees

Sending transactions on BSC is way cheaper than on Ethereum.

Gas fees on BSC can be as low as a few cents versus $10 – $50 on Ethereum!

This makes yield farming, staking, trading etc. very affordable on BSC.

3. Lightning fast transactions

BSC processes blocks every 3-5 seconds leading to very fast confirmation times. Ethereum blocks take 15-30 seconds in comparison.

So if you‘re moving funds or interacting with dApps, BSC offers a much smoother experience.

4. Interoperability between chains

You can easily move assets between BSC and Ethereum using solutions like the Binance Bridge.

So you get the best of both worlds when you connect your Metamask to Binance Smart Chain.

5. Enhanced security

With Metamask, you have full control over your private keys unlike holding tokens on an exchange.

This gives you greatly enhanced security and keeps your crypto assets safe.

Alright, now that you know the benefits, let‘s get your Metamask wallet set up with BSC!

Step 1: Install Metamask Wallet

First, you need to install the Metamask wallet if you haven‘t already. Here‘s how:

On Desktop

  • Go to the official Metamask website.

  • Click Download for your specific browser – Chrome, Firefox, Brave etc.

  • This will take you to the Chrome Web Store or Add-ons store.

  • Click Add to to install the Metamask extension. May require additional confirmations.

  • Once installed, you‘ll see the Metamask fox icon on the top-right corner of your browser window.

On Mobile

  • Android – Download the Metamask app from the Google Play Store.

  • iOS – Download from the App Store.

The mobile app gives you the same functionality for managing your Ethereum and crypto wallet on the go.

Step 2: Set Up Metamask Wallet

Once installed, its time to configure your Metamask wallet:

  1. Open the Metamask extension and click on Get Started.

  2. Next, click on Create a Wallet.

  3. You‘ll see a Secret Recovery Phrase on the next screen. This is 12 random words that back up your wallet.

  4. Copy these words and save them in a safe place. Don‘t share these words with anyone.

  5. Verify the phrase by entering the words in the correct order.

  6. Next, create a strong password for your Metamask wallet.

  7. Click Create to complete setting up the wallet.

  8. You‘ll land on the main account screen that shows your Ethereum address.

  9. Click on your profile icon and note down your Account and Wallet Address.

This is your public wallet address that you‘ll use to receive ETH and tokens.

Make sure you back up your Secret Recovery Phrase somewhere safe in case you ever lose access to your wallet.

Now your Metamask wallet is ready for action! Let‘s link it up with Binance Smart Chain.

Step 3: Add Binance Smart Chain to Metamask

Here are the steps to add BSC mainnet to your Metamask:

  1. Access your Metamask wallet and click on your profile picture.

  2. From the dropdown menu, select Settings.

  3. Navigate to the Networks tab in Settings.

  4. Under Networks, click on Add Network.

  5. Enter the following details:

  6. Finally, click Save to add Binance Smart Chain.

That‘s it! BSC will now show up alongside Ethereum Mainnet as one of your network options in Metamask.

Optional: Add BSC Testnet

You can also add the BSC test network by repeating the steps above and entering these details:

- Network Name: Smart Chain - Testnet
- New RPC URL: https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.binance.org:8545  
- Chain ID: 97
- Symbol: BNB
- Block Explorer URL: https://testnet.bscscan.com

The testnet allows you test transactions before going live.

Step 4: Get BNB for Transaction Fees

To move funds or use dApps on BSC, you‘ll need BNB tokens for paying gas fees.

Here are two ways to get BNB into your Metamask BSC wallet:

A) Buy on an Exchange

You can buy BNB on a spot exchange like Binance and withdraw directly to your BSC wallet address:

  1. Purchase BNB on Binance.

  2. In your Metamask BSC wallet, copy your BSC address. It will start with "0x".

  3. Go to your Binance account and select Withdraw next to your BNB balance.

  4. Enter your Metamask BSC address in the recipients field.

  5. Choose the network as BEP20 (BSC).

  6. Enter the amount to withdraw and hit Submit.

  7. Once the transaction is processed, your BNB balance will reflect in Metamask.

B) Use Binance Bridge

The other way is to use the Binance Bridge to transfer BNB from Binance Chain to BSC:

  1. Go to www.binance.org/bridge.

  2. Choose From: Binance Chain Wallet and To: BSC.

  3. Connect your Binance Chain wallet if required.

  4. Enter the amount of BNB to transfer.

  5. Input your BSC Metamask address.

  6. Click Transfer and confirm the details.

This will convert your BNB to the BSC network and send it to your Metamask wallet.

Step 5: Use Metamask on Binance Smart Chain

Now comes the fun part – using Metamask with BSC!

Here‘s how to toggle between Ethereum and BSC:

  1. Open your Metamask extension.

  2. Click on the network dropdown on the top right.

  3. Choose Smart Chain to switch to BSC. Your address will now change from Ethereum to BSC format.

  4. To change back to Ethereum, select Ethereum Mainnet from the dropdown.

  5. You can add BSC tokens like CAKE, BAKE, BUNNY etc. by going to Add Token and entering the contract address.

And that‘s it! You can now access DeFi apps on BSC like PancakeSwap and more directly from your Metamask wallet.

Here are some things you can do:

  • Swap tokens on BSC DEXs like PancakeSwap
  • Provide liquidity and earn trading fees
  • Stake tokens in yield farms to earn rewards
  • Participate in IDOs and earn new token allocations
  • Use BSC lending and borrowing protocols

The world of DeFi on Binance Smart Chain is now open to you!

Troubleshooting Guide

Here are some troubleshooting tips for common Metamask + BSC issues:

Insufficient BNB Balance

Make sure you have enough BNB in your Metamask wallet to pay for gas fees on BSC. You may need to purchase more BNB from an exchange.

Wrong Network Selected

Confirm you have the right network selected in Metamask – toggle between Mainnet and Smart Chain.

Stuck Transactions

Try clearing your browser cache and restarting Metamask. Also check BscScan to confirm if the transaction went through.

Errors Connecting Metamask to dApp

Some DeFi sites may not be optimized for mobile browsers. Try on a desktop device and ensure you‘re on the latest version of Metamask.

RPC Issues

If the default RPC URL stops working, use a custom BSC RPC endpoint from Binance Academy. You can also contact BSC telegram support.

Questions?

Reach out to the helpful Metamask community on Reddit or Telegram if you have any other issues. The Binance English Telegram group is also very responsive.

And those are some of the common troubleshooting tips! With a bit of trial and error, you‘ll likely have Metamask working perfectly with BSC in no time.

Conclusion

Connecting Metamask with Binance Smart Chain opens up a whole new world of DeFi apps for you to explore.

You can now leverage the strengths of both Ethereum and BSC blockchains right from your Metamask crypto wallet.

With this guide, you have all the steps required to add BSC to Metamask and start your DeFi journey.

Here are some final tips:

  • Always back up your Metamask Secret Recovery Phrase.

  • Hold your crypto assets in a hardware wallet for maximum security.

  • Start small and get familiar with how Metamask and BSC work before investing larger amounts.

  • There are risks in DeFi – do your own research before putting money into projects.

If you found this guide helpful, share it with anyone else looking to get started with Metamask and BSC!

Good luck and happy DeFi yields!

AlexisKestler

Written by Alexis Kestler

A female web designer and programmer - Now is a 36-year IT professional with over 15 years of experience living in NorCal. I enjoy keeping my feet wet in the world of technology through reading, working, and researching topics that pique my interest.