Microsoft Edge, Microsoft’s web browser, is exploring a built-in non-custodial crypto wallet. A software developer named Albacore has just released screenshots of an experimental wallet that may be used for crypto transactions or as an entry point to DeFi and Web3 programs.
Microsoft hasn’t made an official announcement about the wallet. Still, during setup, you learn that it’s non-custodial, so you retain complete control of your money, and it’s straightforward to use without needing an extension to be installed. The screenshots also show a crypto wallet’s user interface, a decentralized application explorer, a news feed, and the option to buy bitcoins with Coinbase and MoonPay.
It must be apparent which cryptos are compatible with the wallet, but users can manually add their tokens. The wallet can also be used to store NFTs and to shop for them in several marketplaces.
Microsoft has demonstrated an interest in the metaverse, which may explain why the business is experimenting with a crypto wallet. Despite this, Microsoft has just shelved the Industrial Metaverse Core team project and let go of roughly a hundred staff.
Built-in Crypto Wallets Becoming a Trend Among Major Web Browsers
When it comes to trying out a built-in crypto wallet, Microsoft Edge is not alone. Cryptocurrency has been supported by Opera since 2018, first on mobile and then on a desktop in 2019.
Other blockchain networks, like Bitcoin, Solana, Polygon, and Ronin, are now supported in the browser wallet, demonstrating the browser’s continued commitment to crypto.
The Brave browser comes with its crypto wallet called the Brave Wallet, which is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and all Ethereum Layer 2 chains, NFTs on the ERC-721 standard, and regular ERC-20 tokens.
The trend of significant web browsers adding built-in crypto wallets is a sign of growing adoption in the crypto space. While users of browsers like Mozilla, Firefox, and Google Chrome can install third-party crypto wallets to use Web3 applications, built-in wallets provide a more streamlined and user-friendly experience.
Final Thoughts
More and more crypto wallets are being created to accommodate the growing demand for cryptos. There has been a recent trend among major web browsers to include built-in crypto wallets, which indicates digital assets’ expanding acceptability and usage.
The experimental crypto wallet in Microsoft Edge follows the lead of other browsers like Opera and Brave, making it easier for their users to keep track of and transact with their digital assets. We should expect additional crypto integration into widespread applications and platforms as the number of people learning about DeFi and NFTs grows.