Which Networks Does MetaMask Support?
EVM vs Non-EVM Blockchains
So, MetaMask is ready, and at this point it may not be clear what to do next — and why there are only two networks available, such as Ethereum and another one. Let’s start with networks.
MetaMask supports quite a large number of networks. You can find them by clicking on the network selection button. There you’ll see different options, but that’s not all — those are only the networks MetaMask suggests by default. In reality, there are many more.
All the networks supported by MetaMask follow the same structure. They are called EVM-compatible networks or Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) networks. Since they are built on the same architecture, you can use MetaMask to interact with many blockchains — for example, Ethereum, Optimism, and others.
But there are also blockchains that MetaMask doesn’t support. A good example is Solana. You cannot add Solana to MetaMask because it has its own architecture that is not EVM-compatible. To use Solana, you need a separate wallet or a multi-chain wallet that supports both Solana and EVM-based networks.
The same applies to Bitcoin. Bitcoin has its own blockchain and architecture, which is not supported by MetaMask either. In other words, MetaMask only works with networks built on Ethereum’s model.
Other blockchains are not supported in MetaMask by default. Of course, there are some workarounds to add certain assets, but it’s better to use either a proper multi-chain wallet or dedicated wallets for each specific blockchain you plan to interact with.
By default, MetaMask opens in a small window at the top-right corner of your browser. To access the full interface, click on the three dots in the upper-right corner and select the button to expand.
This opens MetaMask in a larger view, which is more convenient for managing your wallet. However, most of the time you’ll be using the smaller pop-up window.
Now, let’s talk about networks. When you click on “Add Network”, you’ll see a list of networks available for connection. As you progress in the Web3 ecosystem, you’ll encounter different networks because some tools are only available on Ethereum, others on Arbitrum, and some on different chains. Each network has its own unique tools and opportunities.
In practice, the differences between networks come down to transaction fees, speed, and certain specific features. But all of them work within the same wallet. The key idea is to leverage tools across multiple networks to maximize your strategy.
To add a network, simply go to “Add Network” and connect it. Once added, the network will appear in your wallet, and you can easily switch between them — for example, Ethereum, Arbitrum, and others.
What if the network you need isn’t listed by default? That’s where Chainlist comes in. If the network isn’t in MetaMask’s dropdown, just open Chainlist, search for the network, connect your wallet, and click “Add”. After that, it will appear in MetaMask, ready to use.
MetaMask supports a huge number of networks. For example, the Mantle network doesn’t appear by default, but you can easily add it using Chainlist. Similarly, there are many other networks you’ll probably never interact with. In practice, your set of networks will usually be limited to just a few, where the real earning tools are. And if you ever need more, you can always add them later.
Let’s go back to Ethereum. The most important distinction between networks, beyond transaction speed and architecture (which is often built on the Ethereum model), is the token used to pay fees.
For example:
- In Ethereum, transaction fees are paid in ETH.
- In Arbitrum, fees are also paid in ETH.
- In Base — ETH.
- In Blast — also ETH.
So even though these networks differ, they all rely on ETH as their base token for fees.
But some networks use different tokens. For example, in Avalanche, fees are paid in AVAX. When you switch to Avalanche in MetaMask, your base currency becomes AVAX instead of ETH.
The same applies to other chains. Some are Layer 2 solutions built on top of Ethereum, so their fees are still paid in ETH. But independent networks, even if they use Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) architecture, often rely on their own tokens for fees.
This is always specific to each network, so you need to know which token is required for transactions in whichever chain you’re using.
As an example, let’s add another network: open “Add Network” again and connect it via Chainlist.
Here I see Polygon, so I click “Add.” This network also has its own token used for paying fees. Once I switch my active network to Polygon, all transaction fees will be paid in MATIC, since MATIC is the native coin of the Polygon chain.
This is essentially the main global difference between networks — each one uses a different coin for paying transaction fees. In Layer 2 networks, the fees are paid in ETH. For example, in Optimism, all fees are paid in ETH, just like in the Ethereum mainnet.
Another important point is the address. Your wallet address will always remain the same across all networks within one account. For example, here’s my address: it stays identical whether I’m on Base, Blast, or Polygon. Only the network changes, not the address.
Later in the course, I’ll show how to buy cryptocurrency via P2P on centralized exchanges and how withdrawals work across different networks. The key thing to remember: in MetaMask, your account address is always the same across all supported networks. Of course, you can create a new account, which will generate a new address, but for now, you don’t need to.
I’ve already made a detailed overview of MetaMask in the “Wallets” module, where I explain all the main features. One more important note: almost all networks that you can add to MetaMask have very low transaction fees — except Ethereum.
In Ethereum, fees can range from $3 to $15 per transaction. This is because Ethereum is the first and most heavily used blockchain, where the issue of high fees has not yet been fully solved. That’s why Layer 2 solutions were created — to offload the main network.
For example, in Arbitrum the fee can be as low as $0.01, in Base around $0.01–0.02, in Avalanche $0.15–0.20, and in Polygon about $0.05. Almost all networks supported by MetaMask are cheap to use, except for Ethereum.
In the next post, I’ll show step by step how to buy cryptocurrency on a centralized exchange (like Bybit), how to withdraw it to your wallet, which network to use, and what to keep in mind during the process.
Disclaimer: These materials are created for educational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.