ChainSafe Receives a Web3 Foundation Grant for SubstrateSnap
Authored by Colin Adams
We're delighted to announce that ChainSafe has received another grant from the Web3 Foundation (W3F). This time to complete a rewrite of SubstrateSnap, an experimental plugin that extends the functionality of MetaMask to Polkadot and other Substrate-based chains.
What's a snap?
For context, a "snap" is a sandbox where developers can safely customize the MetaMask wallet experience. Snaps are a strategic priority for ChainSafe as we believe they're vital to boosting the adoption of web3 systems. And to that end, we're also involved in creating and maintaining snaps for Filecoin and Mina.
In terms of SubstrateSnap, the plugin enables support for the Polkadot and Kusama networks inside MetaMask, making MetaMask-Polkadot dApp integration easier. Once finished, SubstrateSnap will enable millions of MetaMask users to easily access the Polkadot and Kusama ecosystems.
Why does it matter?
With an ever-growing number of popular blockchains, each with a native wallet, users often have to use multiple wallet applications. This is tedious and acts as a blocker to the scalability and interoperability of web3 solutions as a whole.
By granting users the flexibility to use their wallet of choice within their ecosystem of choice, in this case, MetaMask and Substrate, ecosystems can begin to share user interactions freely and, as such, mutually benefit from an increase in user activity across all applications.
Project details
This project is focused on maintaining the development already done on SubstrateSnap. There are a few elements to this maintenance. First, to conform to the new Metamask Snaps API. Second, update the @polkadot/api library to the latest version and ensure that it works with Lavamoat. Third, to revamp the demo and wiki page, and fourth, to open a pull request on Polkadot.js to enable usage of the Metamask Flask via Snap.
We're grateful to the W3F for their support of our ongoing efforts to boost the interoperability of the Substrate ecosystem via MetaMask Snaps. This project is open source, and its repository and wiki pages can be found [here](https://github.com/ChainSafe/metamask-snap-polkadot) and here.
About The Web3 Foundation
Web3 Foundation funds research and development teams building the technology stack of the decentralized web. It was established in Zug, Switzerland, by Ethereum co-founder and former CTO Gavin Wood. Polkadot is the Foundation's flagship project.
Learn more about Web3 Foundation by visiting their website, and stay up to date with the latest developments by following them on Medium or Twitter.
About ChainSafe
ChainSafe is a leading blockchain research and development firm specializing in infrastructure solutions for the decentralized web. Alongside client implementations for Ethereum, Polkadot, Filecoin, and Mina, we're building a portfolio of web3 products - Files, Storage, the Gaming SDK, and ChainBridge. As part of our mission to build innovative products for users and better tooling for developers, ChainSafe embodies an open source and community-oriented ethos. To learn more, click here.
