Chapter 1 – Finding Token Contract Addresses

Hey there! If you‘re reading this, you probably want to know how to add custom tokens to your MetaMask wallet. Well, you‘ve come to the right place!

Adding tokens beyond ETH to MetaMask gives you more options in the world of crypto. Whether you want to hold Shiba Inu, interact with dApps on Polygon, or stake tokens for yield, you need to add custom assets first.

The process is easy once you know how. In this detailed guide, I‘ll show you step-by-step how to import any token to MetaMask like a pro.

By the end, you‘ll be able to:

• Find and copy token contract addresses
• Import tokens to the right network
• Receive and interact with added tokens
• Avoid common mistakes that could cost you money

So if you‘re ready to become a custom token master, let‘s dive in! This comprehensive guide has everything you need to know.

The first step in adding any custom token to MetaMask is identifying and copying its contract address.

Every token has a unique contract address on its native blockchain that tells MetaMask exactly which token to import.

For popular Ethereum tokens, these addresses are usually ERC-20 contracts. For Binance Smart Chain, they‘ll be BEP-20 contracts.

Here are some ways to find a token‘s contract address:

CoinMarketCap

My favorite way to find contracts is CoinMarketCap.com. Here‘s how:

1. Search for your token
2. Click on it to open the token‘s page
3. Scroll down to the "Contracts" section
4. Copy the contract address by clicking the copy button

For example, if you search for Chainlink, you‘ll find this contract address:

0x514910771AF9Ca656af840dff83E8264EcF986CA

CoinMarketCap also shows what networks a token is on. This helps you know which network you‘ll need to add to MetaMask later.

Etherscan

Etherscan has a database of Ethereum tokens and their contracts.

To find a token:

1. Go to Etherscan.io
2. Click on "Tokens"
3. Search for your token
4. Copy its contract from Etherscan

However, CoinMarketCap is usually simpler for newcomers.

Token Websites

Some token projects list the contract on their official website. You can usually find it under documentation or FAQ sections.

For example, Aave has a docs page with the contract address.

However, this takes more digging than CoinMarketCap or Etherscan.

Tips for Finding Addresses

When looking for contract addresses, remember these tips:

• Double check the network – Tokens may be on multiple networks. Make sure you copy the right address.

• Verify the source – Only use trusted sites like CoinMarketCap to avoid scams.

• Triple check the address – Typos can lead to loss of funds when importing tokens.

Now you know how to find and copy token contract addresses. Next, we need to make sure your wallet has the right network added.

Before you can add a token to MetaMask, you need to add its native network first.

Most major tokens are ERC-20 tokens on the Ethereum mainnet.

So you usually just need to confirm Ethereum Mainnet is added to your wallet.

Here‘s how to quickly check and add Ethereum Mainnet:

1. Click your network dropdown in MetaMask.

2. If you see "Ethereum Mainnet" in the list, select it.

3. If you don‘t see Ethereum Mainnet, click "Add Network" then enter these details:

• Network Name: Ethereum Mainnet
• New RPC URL: https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR-INFURA-ID
• Chain ID: 1
• Currency Symbol: ETH

4. Click Save once you‘ve added Ethereum Mainnet

Some tokens may be on other networks like BNB Smart Chain, Polygon, Optimistic Ethereum, etc.

You‘ll need to add those networks before importing tokens built on them.

But most major projects are still ERC-20 tokens on Ethereum Mainnet.

Below are some examples of tokens and the networks you need:

Token	Required Network
Shiba Inu (SHIB)	Ethereum Mainnet
Chainlink (LINK)	Ethereum Mainnet
USD Coin (USDC)	Ethereum Mainnet
Uniswap (UNI)	Ethereum Mainnet
Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC)	Ethereum Mainnet
Matic (MATIC)	Polygon Mainnet
Binance Coin (BNB)	BNB Smart Chain

So make sure you‘ve added the right network for your token before importing it.

Next, I‘ll show you how to actually import tokens into MetaMask.

Once you have your token‘s contract address and the right network added, we can finally import it into MetaMask.

Here are the steps for importing any custom token:

1. Confirm you‘ve selected the right network

2. Click on "Import Tokens" in MetaMask

3. Select the "Custom Tokens" tab

4. Paste your token‘s contract address

5. Click "Add Custom Token"

6. Verify the details and click "Import"

Let‘s break this down step-by-step:

1. Select the Right Network

Click the network dropdown and make sure you‘ve selected the network your token is on.

Again, for most major tokens, this will be Ethereum Mainnet.

2. Click "Import Tokens"

In your MetaMask wallet, scroll down and click the "Import Tokens" link.

This will open up the token import page.

3. Select "Custom Token"

On the import page, make sure to select the "Custom Token" tab, as we‘ll be adding a token by address.

4. Paste in the Contract Address

In the address field, paste your token‘s contract address you copied earlier from CoinMarketCap or Etherscan.

Once you paste it in, MetaMask will usually auto-populate the symbol, decimals, etc.

If it doesn‘t auto-populate, don‘t worry about filling that info in. You just need the address.

5. Add the Custom Token

Once your address is entered, click the "Add Custom Token" button.

MetaMask will display a warning showing the token details.

6. Verify and Import the Token

Carefully check that the token details like symbol, decimals, etc. match what you expected.

If everything looks good, click the "Import Tokens" button.

The custom token is now in your wallet!

Checking Your Work

To confirm MetaMask imported the right token, click on the token in your wallet assets and verify:

• Token symbol & name match expectations
• Decimal places match (most tokens are 18 decimals)
• Contract address matches what you entered

Now you know the full process for importing any token into MetaMask!

Once you successfully add a token to MetaMask, you need to take one more step to actually receive the token.

You have to share your unique wallet address so the sender knows where to send your tokens.

Here‘s how to find and share your address:

1. In MetaMask, click your account icon (top right)

2. Select whichever account holds the token you added

3. Click the three dots next to the account name

4. Select "Copy Address"

5. Paste this address to the sender of the token

For example, if you purchased SHIB on Coinbase and wanted to withdraw it to MetaMask, you would:

1. Copy your MetaMask SHIB address

2. Go to Coinbase and select "Withdraw" for SHIB

3. Paste your MetaMask address into the Coinbase withdrawal page

4. Complete the withdrawal

This will send your new SHIB to the MetaMask wallet where you can now view, send, and use your SHIB.

The same process applies when receiving any token you add to MetaMask. Share your address, and the sender will know exactly where to deliver your tokens.

There are some common mistakes people make when adding tokens to MetaMask. Avoid these to keep your funds safe:

• Wrong contract address – Triple check the address comes from a trusted source. A wrong address could result in loss of funds.

• Incorrect network – Again, triple check you‘ve added the right network for the token. Wrong networks can mean lost tokens.

• Forgetting to add token first – You MUST import the token before sending it to your wallet. If you don‘t add it, you won‘t see or have access to the tokens when they arrive.

• Sending to contract address – Never send funds directly to the token contract address. You need to send them to your unique wallet address.

As long as you watch out for the above mistakes, you can safely add any token you want to MetaMask.

After adding countless tokens to MetaMask over the years, I‘ve picked up some pro tips worth sharing:

• Rename your added tokens to keep things organized, like "SHIB – Shiba Inu"

• Add token logos to quickly distinguish tokens at a glance in your wallet

• Import tokens you plan to trade soon to your wallet so you don‘t have to rush to add them when swapping

• If a token doesn‘t auto-populate after entering the address, don‘t worry, you can still import it

• Always send a small test transaction first when depositing any new token

These tips help you get the most out of custom tokens in MetaMask.

Let‘s recap the key steps covered in this guide:

To add any token to MetaMask:

1. Get the token‘s contract address from CoinMarketCap or Etherscan

2. Confirm you‘ve added the right network to MetaMask

3. Click "Import Tokens" in your MetaMask wallet

4. Paste the token contract address

5. Add the custom token

6. Verify the token details

7. Share your wallet address to receive the token

8. Avoid common mistakes like wrong addresses or networks

Following this process allows you to import any token onto any network that MetaMask supports.

You now have the superpower to add any token you want!

Being able to import new tokens to MetaMask gives you flexibility as the crypto space grows and evolves.

You can now hold emerging assets, use new dApps, get yield on lending platforms, and more!

I hope this guide served as your complete master class on adding any custom token to MetaMask.

You learned how to:

• Find and copy token contract addresses

• Add token networks to MetaMask

• Import tokens by address

• Receive and interact with added tokens

• Avoid costly mistakes

• Use pro tips from a MetaMask expert

With this knowledge, you can confidently import any token like a pro.

So get out there and starting loading up your MetaMask wallet with all your favorite tokens!

Let me know if you have any other questions. And happy token importing!