How To Set a Custom Provider in MetaMask
2 min read
Overview
MetaMask is one of the essential tools for web3 development. It comes set up with Ethereum blockchain networks out of the box. But there can be some specific use cases where you might want to add a custom provider to MetaMask for faster transaction processing or to connect to a custom network. In this guide, we’ll cover how to set up a custom provider in MetaMask.
What is MetaMask?
MetaMask is a cryptocurrency wallet browser extension that connects to the Ethereum blockchain and supports other EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) based chains. It is one of the best wallets to interact with Decentralized Applications (dApps) and Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs). MetaMask is not limited to storing native blockchain currencies, such as ETH or BSC. It can also store ERC-20 or BEP-20 tokens. It is compatible with major browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Brave, and Microsoft Edge.
Let us see how we can set up QuickNode as the custom RPC provider in MetaMask for faster transactions.
Creating an endpoint on QuickNode
You can create a free account on QuickNode.com within a few clicks. Just select a plan, choose a chain, select a network, and create your endpoint. After you've created your endpoint, copy your HTTP Provider URL:
You'll need this later, so copy and save it.
Setting up MetaMask with a custom provider
Download the MetaMask browser extension if you haven’t already. Make an account and keep your seed phrase safe.
Step 1: Open MetaMask, click on the network menu on top, and select “Custom RPC”
Step 2: Enter the network name (It can be any name of your choice; I’m using QuickNode in this example), paste your QuickNode endpoint URL in the second field that says “New RPC URL". Enter the “Chain ID”, which is also known as the network id (1 in this case as we are using an Ethereum Mainnet endpoint), and click on save.
Now you’ll be able to see your node under the available networks in your MetaMask wallet.
Listed below are the Chain / Network IDs for various EVM based networks:
- Ethereum Mainnet: 1
- Ethereum Testnet Rinkeby: 4
- Ethereum Testnet Kovan: 42
- Ethereum Testnet Ropsten: 3
- Ethereum Testnet Görli: 5
- xDAI Chain: 100
- BNB Smart Chain Mainnet: 56
- Polygon/Matic Mainnet: 137
- Optimistic Ethereum: 10
A list of all the commonly used chains can be found here.
Conclusion
Now we’ve successfully added QuickNode as the custom RPC provider in the MetaMask wallet. It is always a good idea to have a custom network added to your MetaMask for faster transactions or even as a backup.
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