After years of chatter, the popular crypto wallet MetaMask is finally getting its own native token. Joseph Lubin, CEO of Consensys and an Ethereum co-founder, confirmed that a token named MASK is now in the works. He even hinted it might launch “sooner than expected,” sparking a lot of interest in the crypto world.
Lubin made these remarks during an interview on “The Crypto Beat” podcast by The Block. His confirmation is a big deal, as rumors about MetaMask having its own coin have been swirling for ages. MetaMask is one of the most widely used crypto wallets, giving millions of people access to Web3.
MASK: token nativo de MetaMask confirmado
Joseph Lubin (Consensys) confirma desarrollo; podría llegar pronto
Vinculado a la descentralización, sin fecha oficial; ocurre tras lanzamiento de mUSD pic.twitter.com/8FSNssTRn7— Diario฿itcoin (@Blaze Trends)
Lubin spoke on a live stream, explaining that the MASK token will play a vital role in making MetaMask more decentralized. He stated that the asset is “significantly related to the decentralization of certain aspects of the MetaMask platform.” This fits with Consensys’s broader goal of promoting “rigorous decentralization” across its Ethereum tools, which include MetaMask, Infura, and Linea. While he didn’t share an exact launch date or other deployment details, his words suggest a solid plan is in place.
MetaMask’s Own Cryptocurrency: MASK
Talk about a MetaMask token goes back to at least 2021. At that time, MetaMask engineer Erik Marks even suggested the idea of community ownership through a token launch, as reported by The Block. However, official statements until now had been cautious. Just this past May, MetaMask co-founder Dan Finlay said that a native token was still just a possibility, not yet confirmed.
Finlay also warned users about potential scams related to these rumors. He stressed that “speculation is the worst part of the rumor because it allows malicious actors to take advantage of users.” He promised that any official token announcement would come directly through the MetaMask app or its official website. Users should not trust messages sent via direct messages, emails, or social media, as the platform does not collect personal data like phone numbers or emails. Lubin’s recent comments represent a big step forward from Finlay’s cautious stance. They indicate that the MASK launch is now a definite and upcoming event. Finlay had previously mentioned that if a token launched, a link would be found directly within the wallet interface itself.
Busy Times for Consensys and MetaMask
While the MASK token was the main hot topic, Lubin also touched on other developments within the Consensys ecosystem. He mentioned the recent launch of the native token for Linea, an Ethereum Layer 2 solution also developed by Consensys. This month, over 9.36 billion LINEA tokens were distributed to eligible addresses. Consensys kept a modest 15% stake, focusing on giving most tokens to the community to encourage builders and liquidity. Lubin noted that “with the token launch, we had the opportunity to do some pretty impactful things.”
Lubin also serves as chairman of SharpLink Gaming. This public company uses Ethereum as a treasury asset and holds a significant amount of ETH—around 836,710 ETH, making it the second-largest corporate holder. He discussed financial hurdles, like the company’s market net asset value (mNAV) ratio dropping below 1. He described this as a “temporary dislocation,” influenced by regular market cycles.
The confirmation of the MASK token comes at a time of expansion for MetaMask. Just earlier this week, MetaMask introduced its first own stablecoin, mUSD. This stablecoin is backed 1:1 by high-quality assets and is issued using Bridge, a platform from Stripe. With an initial circulating supply of about $18 million, mUSD aims to be used for everyday transactions within the MetaMask system. There are plans to make it usable with the MetaMask Card, which is compatible with Mastercard, before the end of the year. This move aligns well with the broader decentralization strategy that MASK is set to advance.