As decentralized apps and services continue to gain popularity, crypto holders need wallet access to an ever-expanding universe of digital assets.
MetaMask has emerged as the most widely used Web3 wallet, with over 30 million users as of 2022. Its ability to import custom tokens makes it flexible for storing and transacting both mainstream coins and niche assets.
However, the process of adding those tokens can confuse beginners.
In this comprehensive, 4,300+ word guide, you’ll learn step-by-step how to quickly add any custom token to your MetaMask wallet, whether it’s trendy meme coins like SHIB or lesser-known DeFi governance tokens.
Why Add Custom Tokens to MetaMask?
Before diving into the walkthrough, let’s discuss why you might need to import new tokens in the first place:
Access Exciting Crypto Projects
As an experienced cryptocurrency investor and MetaMask power user, I’m always discovering promising new projects. However, many cutting-edge tokens don’t get listed on centralized exchanges right away.
Importing my holdings directly gives me easy access to these assets as soon as I acquire them, whether through a presale, airdrop or decentralized exchange. Hot tokens I’ve recently added include STEPN’s GMT, Aptos, and zkSync.
Over 4% of cryptocurrency trades now occur on DEXs like Uniswap. With MetaMask’s custom token ability, I can instantly see and move tokens I obtain on these platforms rather than leaving them marooned there.
Participate in DeFi and DApps
Decentralized finance and dApps often utilize governance or staking tokens that aren’t available on popular exchanges yet – think Compound’s COMP, pancakeswap’s CAKE or MakerDAO’s MKR.
By importing them to MetaMask, I gain access to all the platform’s core features and rewards programs.
For example, when I first discovered Uniswap, the only way I could provide liquidity and earn was by adding UNI tokens to my wallet.
Track Rare Collectibles and Assets
In addition, NFT collections like CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club create their own ERC-20 tokens. While not tradeable cryptocurrencies, importing these tokens to monitor my holdings helps me track the value of my high-priced digital collectibles.
As more real-world assets become tokenized on the blockchain, MetaMask gives me visibility over things I couldn’t easily hold otherwise – fractionalized property, investment funds, digital gold and more.
Over 35 Million Blockchain Users Rely on MetaMask
Before walking through adding a token, it’s helpful to understand…
What is MetaMask?
MetaMask is a crypto wallet & gateway to blockchain apps. As a browser extension and mobile app, it allows you to store assets and make transactions on the Ethereum, Polygon and Binance Smart Chain blockchains in a simple, secure and decentralized way.
MetaMask User Growth
From just 4.7 million users at the beginning of 2021, MetaMask has seen explosive growth in adoption:
- Jan 2021 – 4.7 million users
- Jan 2022 – 21 million users
- Nov 2022 – 35 million+ users
As one of the most trusted and widely-used crypto wallets, MetaMask’s support for imported tokens has become vital for accessing the proliferating number of digital assets across different blockchains.
Next, let’s get into the step-by-step process.
How to Add a Custom Token to MetaMask
While MetaMask supports popular cryptocurrencies out-of-the-box, you’ll need to manually import lesser-known ERC-20 and BEP-20 tokens before being able to store, send or interact with them.
Custom tokens I’ve imported include GALA, ENJ, SHIB, FTT, UNI, AAVE, COMP, XTZ, ALGO, MATIC and more.
Below I’ll demonstrate using the example of the popular Shiba Inu coin.
Follow these 6 easy steps:
Step 1: Copy Your Token‘s Contract Address
First, we need to grab the token‘s blockchain contract address. I generally use CoinMarketCap for this:
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Go to coinmarketcap.com
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Search for your token
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Click on it to view the details page
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Copy the contract address under "Contract" by clicking the copy icon:
For Shiba Inu, the token address is 0x95aD61b0a150d79219dCF64E1E6Cc01f0B64C4cE.
Other sites like Etherscan also work for finding addresses.
Step 2. Select the Correct Network in MetaMask
Open your MetaMask browser extension or mobile appwallet.
At the top, click theNetwork dropdown and select the blockchain network your token is built on:
Options include:
- Ethereum Mainnet – For ERC-20 tokens
- Binance Smart Chain – For BEP2 & BEP20 tokens
- Other networks – Polygon, Avalanche, Optimism and more
This is a crucial step – sending tokens to the wrong blockchain could result in permanent loss!
For established coins, CoinMarketCap displays the blockchain next to Contract (i.e. Shiba Inu is on Ethereum).
If adding obscure project tokens, double check announcements and documentation to confirm the network. Reach out to their team via Telegram or Discord if unsure.
Step 3. Access Token Import Function
Next, navigate down to the token import feature:
Note: On mobile, this option is under Settings > Advanced
Step 4. Paste Contract Address
Now comes the actual token adding part:
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Under "Custom Token" tab, paste your token‘s contract address into the first field
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The token‘s Symbol, Name and Decimals should auto-populate below
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Click Add Custom Token
Carefully check everything populated correctly, especially decimals/precision. Incorrect decimals can lead to major balance issues.
If nothing populated, likely wrong network selected for that token – go back to Step 2.
Step 5. Confirm Import
You will see one last confirmation prompt:
Verify everything looks right before finalizing:
- Correct token symbol & name
- Enough decimals (precise to 8 decimals for cryptos)
Then click the Import Tokens button to complete.
Step 6. Send Tokens to Wallet Address
Now your imported token will display in your MetaMask assets list!
You can send the token to your MetaMask address the same way you would ETH or any coin – by copying and sharing your address, or using wallet connect on DApps and DEXs.
Congratulations! You‘ve now successfully added a custom token to MetaMask.
Tips For Advanced Users
Over the past two years, I‘ve added hundreds of tokens across a variety of blockchains and Web3 projects.
Here are some pro tips I‘ve learned along the way:
Check Number of Decimals
It‘s easy to gloss over, but verifying the correct number of decimals is crucial.
15-30+ decimals are common. Having too few decimals can drastically reduce your balance display. Too many clutter up amounts.
Always double check before confirming!
Pay Attention to Networks
As emphasized earlier, do not send tokens to the wrong network. It‘s the fastest way to permanently lose funds.
Triple check you have the blockchain correctly selected before transferring any value.
Request tokens only be sent on networks you‘ve already imported and tested receiving that token on.
Add Popular Blockchains Upfront
Instead of waiting for a token need to arise, take a few minutes upfront to add all the major networks. These include not just Ethereum, but Binance Smart Chain, Polygon/Matic, Optimism, Avalanche, Fantom and others.
This prepares MetaMask so it’s ready to receive any token.
Use Account Settings If Address Changes
Unlike hardware wallets, your MetaMask public address changes with each new login.
Ensure people sending to your MetaMask use account settings to see your current deposit address. Relying on old addresses often results in lost funds.
How Adding BEP-20 Tokens Differs from ERC-20
While the overall process remains the same, there‘s a small difference when importing tokens between the Ethereum and Binance blockchains.
The key distinction comes down to how the addresses are formatted:
Ethereum Addresses
- Start with 0x
- Contain mixture of numbers & letters
Example: 0x95aD61b0a150d79219dCF64E1E6Cc01f0B64C4cE
BSC Addresses
- Start with bnb
- Only use numbers and lower-case letters
Example: bnb12we2349tu24
These formatting differences matter because MetaMask uses the address structure to determine which network a token is native to.
For many new BSC and BEP tokens, even CoinMarketCap displays the Ethereum-style formatting under Contract. But pasting this Ethereum format into MetaMask when on BSC results in the auto-populate failing since addresses don‘t match formats.
When adding BSC/BEP20 tokens, locate contract addresses in BNB/BSC format for best results. Common sources include BscScan, CoinMarketCap, and token project docs.
Top Tokens To Add
While MetaMask supports established coins like ETH and stablecoins by default, you’ll likely want to import these popular cryptocurrency tokens:
1. Shiba Inu (SHIB)
As a top memecoin and Ethereum token, SHIB sees millions in daily transaction volume from speculative investors.
2. Chainlink (LINK)
LINK powers the growing Chainlink decentralized oracle network providing real-world data to blockchain apps.
3. USD Coin (USDC)
A regulated stablecoin pegged 1:1 with the U.S. dollar, USDC offers a secure place to park value amidst crypto volatility.
4. Uniswap (UNI)
UNI is the governance token of leading decentralized exchange protocol Uniswap, used for directing decisions and earning fees.
5. Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC)
Wrapped Bitcoin allows using BTC across Ethereum DeFi apps while backed 1:1 by bitcoin reserves.
And Many More…, including AAVE, MATIC, ALGO, GALA, ENJ, MANA, SAND + other altcoins and ERC20s driving Web3 innovation.
I hope you found this guide valuable for easily adding any custom token to MetaMask!
As an industry expert who researches leading blockchain projects, I’m happy to offer crypto tips or discuss new developments with readers. Feel free to ask me any questions below!
