Solflare Breaks New Ground by Linking Solana to MetaMask

Updated: 13 September 2023

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For a long time, the incompatibility between MetaMask and Solana has been a roadblock for crypto enthusiasts wanting to manage their Solana-based assets like SOL and NFTs without having to create a separate wallet. Now, however, Solflare is flipping the script with its latest integration that allows users to handle their Solana assets right from their existing MetaMask wallets.

The integration is a noteworthy milestone for the industry, given the divergent infrastructure of the two blockchain networks. This has been a point of contention, leading to a fragmented blockchain space. Filip Dragoslavic, Solflare’s co-founder, shared in a press release distributed to Decrypt that this is a potential “game-changer” for the industry. According to him, the new feature could significantly remove friction for potential Solana adopters by tapping into MetaMask’s massive user base and exposing them to Solana’s rich app ecosystem.

What is MetaMask?

Most crypto users have probably heard of MetaMask. It is a widely used Ethereum wallet and browser extension compatible with Firefox, Google Chrome, Edge, and Brave. With more than 30 million active users per month, the platform allows users to store their crypto keys and interact with decentralized apps (dApps), from DeFi protocols to crypto games. It serves as a bridge between your browser and the Ethereum blockchain.

We have previously written that Metamask has recently introduced many new features that make it easier for users to operate with different cryptocurrencies. In particular, it recently introduced a feature allowing users to convert digital assets into fiat currency and send them straight to their bank or PayPal account. And ;ast month, it was revealed that they solved the other part of the equation: buying crypto with fiat.

How Does Solana Integration Work?

How exactly does Solflare’s integration work? At the core of the feature is a technology called “Solana Snaps,” which establishes a seamless bridge between Solana and Ethereum or any other EVM-compatible chains. It essentially amalgamates all your assets under one roof. This bridge is powered by a DLN product from deBridge, making it easier than ever to move EVM assets over to Solana in less than 60 seconds, according to the announcement. Christian Montoya, who spearheads product at MetaMask Snaps, mentioned that this new capability is a big leap in user experience.

Though crypto bridges offer great functionality, they also come with risks—billions have been lost due to high-profile hacks on crypto bridges like Horizon and Ronin. Interestingly, deBridge, the very project that facilitates this Solflare-MetaMask bridge, faced an attempted cyberattack last year by the Lazarus Group of North Korea. However, a spokesperson for deBridge asserted in an interview that their platform has neither suffered from attacks nor had any critical vulnerabilities exposed.

The spokesperson further elaborated that the deBridge platform has unique security features that make classic bridge attacks pointless. This is mainly because the design of its DLN cross-chain trading infrastructure follows 0-TVL principles, meaning there are no vulnerable “honeypots” to be exploited.

In sum, Solflare’s new MetaMask integration aims to streamline user experience and make Solana more accessible, all while keeping security considerations in mind. If all goes as planned, it could very well break down longstanding barriers and unify crypto users across different blockchain platforms.