How to Add Harmony to MetaMask Wallet: A Beginner’s Guide

In a dynamic and fast-growing world of cryptocurrencies, there are few elements as stable and consistent as the MetaMask wallet. On the other hand, Harmony is a fairly new blockchain platform that aims to solve some of the key problems cryptocurrencies face. As a result, every crypto enthusiast can benefit from knowing how to add Harmony to MetaMask.

This article is tailored toward entry-level users and those who understand the full potential of the Harmony network and its native token, ONE. We’re going to explain what makes this new platform the center of attention for many experienced crypto enthusiasts. Moreover, we’re going to teach you how to use it in combination with the MetaMask wallet.

Let’s jump right in!

What Is Harmony (ONE)?

Harmony (with its native token, ONE) is a decentralized blockchain network on the Ethereum platform. It was designed to solve the blockchain trilemma by adding both scalability and decentralization to the system without sacrificing its security.

A year before its launch in 2019, Harmony raised more than $18 million as a startup. Among the various investors were also entities from Hong Kong and Silicon Valley that purchased 2.8 million out of the 12.6 million pre-mined ONE tokens.

The network’s motto, “decentralization at scale," perfectly encapsulates the goal of developers to utilize sharding as their main method of operation. The intention is to have a system that delivers high throughput without increasing transaction times or costs.

Using a method called “deep sharding,” Harmony tackles some of the fundamental technical obstacles that most cryptocurrencies face. For starters, the network features a Fast Byzantine Fault Tolerant (FBFT) protocol that allows for parallel transactions, thus reducing latency.

Furthermore, its adaptive proof-of-stake consensus mechanism comes with an element of randomness. That way, the network requires fewer validators to reach consensus. Votes are randomized and split into shards, combating any attempt by malicious actors to manipulate the system.

Staking on Harmony (ONE)

Staking the ONE token on Harmony allows participants to secure the network and keep the system healthy. In return, they get block rewards in ONE tokens. The tokens are also used for various fees, including gas and storage fees.

The process of staking on Harmony is rather straightforward, and there are plenty of options to choose from regarding wallets and validators. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to start staking ONE tokens:

1. Head to the official Harmony staking website.
2. Tap on the “Sign In” button, which you can find on the main page’s sidebar.
3. Choose one of the two sign-in options:
4. If you don’t have a wallet set up and funded, choose "Create a new address.”
5. If you already have a wallet with ONE tokens, choose “Use an existing address.”
6. Once you’ve signed in with your wallet, click on the “Validators” link on the sidebar.
7. Type the name of the preferred validator in the search bar or find it on the list.
8. Select a validator.
9. Click on “Delegate.”
10. Enter the number of tokens you wish to stake (save at least 1 token for the fees).
11. Confirm the action in your wallet and start staking.

Bridging on Harmony (ONE)

Bridging on Harmony allows its users to take full advantage of the network’s features, such as fast transactions and low fees. The process takes place on the official Harmony Bridge dApp and involves the following steps:

1. Go to Harmony One Bridge.
2. Select the bridge option from the top navigation bar.
3. Click on the “Connect MetaMask” button to link your wallet to the dApp.
4. (Optional) Tap on the arrows to choose the transfer direction.
5. Select the network that you want to bridge your assets from/to. Harmony supports bridging from the Ethereum, Binance, and Arbitrum blockchains.
6. Choose which token you want to transfer by exploring a list.
7. Enter the amount of cryptocurrency you want to bridge and click “Continue.”
8. Carefully read the notice, as it features important information.
9. Pay attention to gas fees before confirming the bridging action.
10. Once the action begins, you might be required to confirm it in your wallet a couple of times.

The assets bridged to the Harmony blockchain can only be used on that network. Any attempt at transferring them to non-compatible addresses may result in a permanent loss of funds! So, if you want to send them to other blockchains, be sure to first bridge them back.

How to Set Up MetaMask Wallet

If you’re already using your wallet to manage other networks and tokens, then it’s pretty much set up, and you can head over to the next chapter to learn how to add Harmony to MetaMask. On the other hand, if you’re a new user, you can have your wallet set up and running in a matter of minutes.

First off, you should note that there are two types of MetaMask wallets, as they come in the form of:

1. Browser extension
2. Mobile application

You can choose between the two or use them both. Furthermore, the setup process is almost the same for both versions, and it goes like this:

1. Head over to the MetaMask website.
2. Navigate to the “Download” page and choose between Chrome, iOS, and Android versions.
3. After installing, tap on “Create a wallet.”
4. Follow instructions during a step-by-step setup process.
5. Write down a secret recovery phrase and store it securely so that nobody else has access to it. Make sure not to lose it, as it allows you to recover your wallets and funds should you ever lose your password.
6. (Optional) Check additional settings for more security and convenience features.
7. Confirm any changes, and you can start using your wallet.

How to Add Harmony to MetaMask

Since Harmony is one of the biggest and most popular networks in the world of cryptocurrencies, the MetaMask wallet is pre-configured for it, allowing its easy integration.

That’s why there’s no need to manually add it to the wallet and input information like the RPC URL, chain ID, and currency symbol. Moreover, there’s no need to look up complex information, such as the Harmony ONE contract address or its tokenomics.

Here’s how you can start using Harmony with MetaMask in under a minute:

1. Find the network menu at the top of your wallet’s main page.
2. Tap on the “Add network” button.
3. Head over to the “Popular networks” tab.
4. Find the Harmony network and tap “Add” next to it.
5. Check out the network details and click “Verify.”

This is what that looks like in a wallet:

At this point, you will have added Harmony to the wallet, and MetaMask will ask you if you want to switch to it immediately or stay on the current network.

After completing the process, the wallet should automatically start displaying any tokens on it, including the ONE token. If you don’t see any assets yet, you can add them to the wallet manually or by using the auto-detect feature.

Finally, if the pre-configured option of adding Harmony to MetaMask doesn’t work, you can add it manually by typing in the following details:

Key Takeaways

As you can see, learning how to add Harmony to MetaMask is both incredibly simple and immensely important for any crypto enthusiast. The network aims to solve some of the biggest shortcomings of Ethereum and most other blockchains.

By integrating Harmony into your MetaMask wallet, you’ll be able to bridge tokens from other networks and take advantage of faster transaction speeds with lower fees.

As always, make sure to do your research and thread the thriving world of decentralized finance carefully. That way, Harmony and its token, ONE, might end up being one of your best assets. Happy investing!

How to Add Harmony to MetaMask FAQ

• Can I add Harmony to Metamask?

  You can add Harmony to MetaMask by going to the network menu in your wallet and finding Harmony in the recommended networks. The process is simple, as MetaMask is already preconfigured to integrate the blockchain.

• How do I get ONE tokens?

  One of the simplest ways to get ONE tokens is to purchase them on a centralized exchange. Platforms like Binance, KuCoin, and Crypto.com all offer their users the ability to purchase ONE tokens with fiat.

• Is Harmony better than Ethereum?

  Harmony is better than Ethereum in several aspects. For instance, it offers faster transaction times and lower transaction fees. However, Harmony is a much newer network than Ethereum, and so it’s not as tested or proven as Ethereum.