4. Adding a chain to the MetaMask wallet

Jan 30, 2023

In this step we will show how to add a new mainnet (chain). We will need this to enter DeFi projects on different mainnets such as Aurora, Avalanche, Solana, BNB Smart Chain, Ethereum, Fantom, etc.

Engaging with various DeFi protocols on numerous chains can enable us to get yield on assets, invest in chain-specific ecosystems, and work to hedge our portfolios' values against the uncertain winds of the market (portfolio diversification).

One of the most widely used and well-known chains is the BNB Smart Chain (BSC).

In this example, we will show how to add the BSC mainnet to the MetaMask wallet.

In the web browser, click on the MetaMask plugin and then click on the 'My Accounts' icon. Then follow the instructions.

Now, let's add BSC to our MetaMask!

BSC Network Details

Network Name: BSC Mainnet
New RPC URL: https://bsc-dataseed1.binance.org/
Chain ID: 56 (0x38 if that does not work)
Currency Symbol: BNB
Explorer URL: https://bscscan.com/

We have now added BSC to our MetaMask wallet!

We will add one more mainnet, namely Avalanche (AVAX), which we will bridge to later on in the tutorial. It's the same process as adding BSC, except that we fill in the following information in the 'Add a network' option in MetaMask.

AVAX Network Details

Network Name: Avalanche Network
New RPC URL: https://1rpc.io/avax/c
Chain ID: 43114
Currency Symbol: AVAX
Explorer URL: https://snowtrace.io/

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In a similar way, you can add any other mainnet you need for DeFi projects to your MetaMask wallet.

Mainnets can be added manually, as mentioned above, or you can use ChainList services to automate the mainnet addition.

This will make your job easier, but it's a good idea to add your first mainnets manually so you know more about where to change your mainnet settings if you need to in the future.

Analyst opinion

We have managed to add two mainnets: BSC and Avalanche mainnets. We will bridge between these mainnets later on in the tutorial. On the images, you can see what the result of adding the BSC mainnet looks like.

In the next section, we will demonstrate how to add a token to the MetaMask wallet and how to send our digital assets from the exchange to the MetaMask wallet.