MetaMask has unveiled the latest addition to its wallet, ‘Snaps’- a feature that allows developers to build a variety of extensions, adding new features to the app. Think of it like Google Chrome extensions, but for the metamask wallet.
The Basics of Snaps
Snaps plays a big part in MetaMask’s vision for optimal decentralized functionality. Snaps operates in a sandboxed environment and follows a permissions model to safeguard user data.
Permission Model – a blockchain or blockchain layer that is closed for public access and can only be used by permitted users.
Snaps, theoretically, are dynamic in range because they are third-party developed features designed to enhance MetaMask functionality across platforms such as separate blockchains, applications, and payment processors.
The idea is for community developers to deploy their ideas, and the successful ones that are able to gain traction (funding, other developers support, or high user interaction) become a third-party entity on the MetaMask platform. This leaves the control in the users’ hands and creates an organically scalable future for MetaMask with these new tools.
To ensure the proper functionality, validity, and security of a Snaps project, the project undergoes an audit from MetaMask’s team as well as other third parties. Eventually, MetaMask aims to have a structure for a fully permissionless auditing process.
What additional features do Snaps introduce to MetaMask?
Customizable wallets through the installation of featured Snaps.
Connectivity to non-Ethereum blockchains.
Transaction insights.
Web3 Notifications.
Customizable privacy tools that act as individual privacy contracts, without compromising sensitive account data.
Selective permissions for each Snaps feature.
An official Snaps support team to guide users through the new experience.
Francesco Andreoli – Lead of Community Development at ConsenSys – ensured users that Snaps is now trustable and safe to use. With a credible background as a specialist in blockchain and application security, Andreoli highlighted that Snaps is a very consensual feature, as it is fully transparent and will highlight all optional permissions to users as well as the course of action before proceeding with the use of any features.
Naturally the security has been a concern for users venturing into Snaps as it connects third-party applications directly to their wallet.
Andreoli has this to say about Snaps security:
“For security, one big category of our allow list is transaction insights. Basically, what is happening with transaction insights is you really get more data points on what the extension does today. When signing and approving a transaction, you will have different data points before you’re actually approving the transaction.”
How to customize your MetaMask wallet:
Snaps is selectable in the wallet connect feature on your MetaMask wallet. Different features may be implemented in unique ways, so if you need a helping hand in getting started, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. Alternatively, these are the instructions MetaMask has provided for onboarding Snaps.