What is the Cost to Develop a Crypto Wallet App Like MetaMask?

Since its launch in 2016, MetaMask has become a leading name in the world of cryptocurrency wallets. As a gateway to blockchain-based applications, it allows users to securely store and manage their Ethereum-based tokens alongside SOL and SPL tokens. With over 30 million monthly active users, MetaMask has revolutionized how individuals interact with the decentralized web, positioning itself as an indispensable tool for crypto enthusiasts.

The growing demand for decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and smart contracts has pushed MetaMask’s influence even further. With its secure, non-custodial wallet system, it empowers users to take control of their assets without relying on a third party. This model has sparked the development of many similar apps, creating an influx of business opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to enter the crypto space.

Numbers speak for themselves:

• MetaMask’s user base has seen a 400% growth in just the last two years, solidifying its position as a market leader.
• MetaMask has powered over $40 billion in trade volume through its Swap feature, enabling users to swap thousands of tokens across dozens of decentralized exchanges, all directly within the wallet.
• The app has become a favorite among crypto enthusiasts, with over 10 million downloads from the Google Play Store alone.

Here is a bar chart displaying MetaMask downloads by country, highlighting the countries with the highest number of downloads, such as the United States, India, and Nigeria.

The staggering growth in MetaMask’s user base and transaction volume showcases the market potential for a high-quality crypto wallet app. Now, let’s explore how the cost of developing a similar app can align with your business objectives and scalability goals.

The MetaMask-like crypto wallet app development cost can range from $30,000 to $60,000 for a basic version, depending on features and functionality. If you’re looking for a high-end, feature-rich app that includes cross-chain support, advanced security protocols, and integration with DeFi applications, the cost could soar well beyond $250,000. However, the exact price will vary based on your specific project requirements, desired features, and the development team’s expertise.

With this in mind, let’s explore the factors that influence the cost, the must-have features for your wallet app, and the technical stack you’ll need to get your project off the ground.

Understanding the Cost Behind MetaMask-like Crypto Wallet App Development: A Deep Dive into Complexity

As highlighted above, the cost to develop a crypto wallet app like MetaMask can range from $30,000 to $250,000 on average. This price is heavily influenced by the app’s complexity, the features you want to include, and the scalability required for future growth. Simply put, the more complex and feature-rich the app, the higher the cost will rise.

For example, a basic wallet with core functionalities provides an affordable entry into the crypto landscape, ranging from $30,000 to $60,000, enabling your company to engage users and test the market without a major upfront investment. This approach reduces operational costs while ensuring scalability as demand grows.

However, if you’re looking to develop a custom crypto wallet solution with advanced features like multi-chain support, DeFi protocols, and NFT functionalities, you can expect costs to rise to anywhere between $150,000 and $250,000. The increased investment in these features offers long-term benefits in user engagement, security, and overall app value.

Suggesting to read: Cost to Make A Crypto Wallet App on Blockchain

The time required to build an app like Metamask can range from 500 to 2,000 hours of development time. Moreover, the hourly rate for blockchain developers generally goes from $50 to $150 per hour, depending on the region and their level of expertise. Taking this into account, as well as factoring in the costs of design, security audits, and any necessary compliance testing, you can estimate the budget with this simple formula:

To help you visualize how these costs break down, here’s an estimated cost range and timeline based on app complexity:

Scalability not only ensures that your wallet can handle increasing transactions and user growth but also future-proofs your platform. By integrating scalable architecture, your business can easily adapt to emerging technologies like DeFi and NFTs, keeping your wallet competitive in an ever-evolving market. For instance, MetaMask’s Snaps feature, which has seen over 1.1 million installs, is a prime example of how scalability enables companies to extend functionality while supporting growing user demands.

MetaMask’s strong focus on security has made it a trusted platform in the crypto space. Cold storage, multi-signature wallets, and two-factor authentication (2FA) are essential to protect users’ assets.

MetaMask connects to various networks, including Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and Polygon. Integrating blockchain networks and smart contracts requires technical expertise, high-quality development, and security audits—an added complexity that can significantly increase costs.

While we’ve explored the MetaMask-like crypto wallet app development cost implications, it’s equally crucial to understand the factors that determine these costs. Let’s now delve into the key elements that will shape your development investment.

Key Factors Affecting the Cost of Developing Your MetaMask-like Wallet App

The global crypto wallet market is a runaway train, valued at $12.59 billion in 2024 and projected to reach $100.77 billion by 2033, driven by a 26.3% CAGR and the widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies as a legitimate asset class. In this fast-evolving landscape, investing in scalable custom wallet app development can help your business stay competitive, secure, and aligned with the growing demand for cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based assets.

From security features to blockchain integration, the cost to develop a crypto wallet app like MetaMask is influenced by a variety of critical factors. For enterprises looking to enter or expand in the digital asset world, understanding these components is key to ensuring the success of your project while safeguarding user trust and ensuring compliance.

Development Team and Expertise

When you make an app like MetaMask, you require a team of professionals with advanced technical skills, particularly in blockchain development, security protocols, and UI/UX design. The cost to hire a developer will have a significant impact on your budget.

Here’s a breakdown of developer costs by region:

Developer Costs by Region:

Design & User Experience (UX/UI)

Enterprises must ensure their wallet provides an intuitive, seamless experience that helps customers navigate the complexities of digital assets effortlessly. Design UI must be user-friendly, even for users new to cryptocurrency, while ensuring that transactions and wallet management are both secure and easy to understand. The investment here not only enhances user satisfaction but also reduces long-term user support costs.

Estimated Cost: $10,000–$50,000 depending on UI complexity, features, and customization.

Technology Stack and Investment

The cost of building an app like MetaMask requires assembling the right technology stack that ensures your wallet is both scalable and secure. The technology you choose drives performance, user experience, and cost-efficiency. Therefore, create a solid foundation with a scalable tech stack to develop a crypto app like MetaMask.

Security Features

As digital assets grow in value and importance, data breaches can damage a brand’s reputation and user trust. Your wallet should offer top-tier protection with advanced security protocols, ensuring user assets are secure and your brand retains user trust.

Moreover, compliance for crypto wallet apps, like KYC, AML, and GDPR, is necessary to protect user data and avoid regulatory fines.

Estimated Cost: $30,000–$100,000, depending on the complexity of security protocols and regulatory compliance.

Blockchain Infrastructure & APIs

Your crypto wallet should work holistically across different blockchain networks, facilitating live transactions and cross-chain compatibility. This demands strong backend infrastructure and integration with blockchain APIs to support features such as transaction validation, wallet-to-wallet transferring, and management of tokens.

As blockchain technologies evolve rapidly, the backend infrastructure must be scalable, ensuring the wallet can handle a growing number of transactions and users without performance degradation.

Estimated Cost: $20,000–$70,000, depending on the complexity of blockchain integrations and network requirements.

Suggesting to read: A Comprehensive Guide on Blockchain App Development Cost

Smart Contracts & Blockchain Development

Smart contracts are at the heart of DeFi and tokenized assets. For enterprises aiming to build a crypto app like MetaMask, they are necessary for automating transactions and interactions with DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, and more.

However, smart contract development involves security audits to ensure the integrity and reliability of the code, as bugs in the contract can expose users to vulnerabilities.

Key Tools:

• OpenZeppelin for smart contract security and auditing
• Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) for key storage and encryption

Estimated Cost: $20,000–$150,000, depending on the number of smart contracts, audit requirements, and security measures.

Ongoing Maintenance & Upgrades

The development of a crypto wallet does not stop post-launch. Blockchain technology is constantly evolving, and your wallet must remain up-to-date with new blockchain protocols and compliance updates.

Failure to maintain the app can lead to security vulnerabilities and a poor user experience, especially as new features emerge. Therefore, this ongoing investment is essential to protect the long-term viability of your wallet and ensure it scales with industry developments.

Key Considerations:

• Blockchain protocol updates to integrate new tokens, networks, and features.
• Integrate user feedback to enhance UX/UI and implement requested features.
• Bug fixes and security patches to maintain the integrity of the wallet.

Estimated Cost: $20,000–$50,000 annually for maintenance and updates.

Understanding the costs is just the beginning. Let’s take a closer look at the features you’ll need to integrate, such as multi-chain support and security measures, that not only shape the wallet’s capabilities but also directly impact your development budget.

Cost-Estimation Based on Features of the Crypto Wallet App Like MetaMask

A wallet that only stores and transfers coins, enables monitoring of the transaction history, and features a minimalist UI will be cost-effective. However, such basic functionality can only get you so far if you want to grow in a competitive crypto market. It is a good beginning, but it does not realize all the possibilities of blockchain tech.

On the other hand, to develop an app like MetaMask, you must integrate DeFi protocols, enable multi-asset support, and add NFT functionality. It is all about incorporating third-party applications, such as DEXs (Decentralized Exchanges), and giving users access to the expanding universe of digital finance. This intricacy increases the development time and cost, as it involves high-end technical skills and a great deal of customization to ensure everything operates smoothly.

Let’s dissect the key features of a crypto app like MetaMask (based on an average US developer rate of $50–$100/hour).

 

Step-by-Step Process to Developing a Crypto Wallet App Like MetaMask

Now that you know the cost of developing a crypto wallet app like MetaMask, let’s go through the key steps to create one for your business. By developing a custom mobile wallet, you’re positioning your company to harness the growing demand for digital assets while offering a seamless and secure experience to users.

Define Your Wallet’s Core Functionality

Before diving into the development, it’s essential to define the primary features your wallet will offer. For a MetaMask-like crypto wallet app development, the core functions typically include secure wallet creation, token storage, transaction management, and seamless integration with decentralized applications (dApps). Consider how your wallet will serve crypto enthusiasts, prioritizing features that meet your target audience’s needs.

Use the Right Blockchain Libraries

Selecting the right blockchain libraries is crucial for the wallet’s functionality. You’ll need open-source libraries that make your job easier. For example, Web3.js is a popular library for Ethereum wallets, and Ethers.js is another that lets you interact seamlessly with Ethereum’s blockchain. If you’re targeting multi-chain capabilities, libraries like the Binance Chain SDK can also be helpful.

For mobile app development, consider using React Native or Flutter to build cross-platform apps, allowing you to reach both iOS and Android users with ease. These technologies simplify the process of creating a user-friendly wallet experience.

Leverage Feature-Rich APIs

Next, it’s crucial to integrate APIs that allow your app to interact with blockchain networks. APIs like Infura or Alchemy provide seamless connections to Ethereum, enabling your app to process transactions, interact with smart contracts, and monitor wallets in real-time. Using these APIs will ensure that your app performs efficiently and stays connected to the blockchain ecosystem without having to manage your own Ethereum node.

Choose the Right Cloud Infrastructure

For scalability and reliability, choose a cloud service like AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure. These platforms will help you ensure your app can handle high transaction volumes and scale as your user base grows. If you’re building a mobile wallet, you’ll likely want to rely on BaaS (Blockchain as a Service) platforms for easier blockchain management. This ensures that your app’s backend can remain responsive and efficient while handling complex blockchain data.

Design a User-Friendly Interface (UI/UX)

The wallet interface must be intuitive and simple. Users need to be able to view transaction history, store tokens, and manage security settings with ease. A complex or clunky UI can deter users from adopting your wallet. Think of it as the window through which users engage with their digital assets, so its simplicity, combined with efficient navigation, is key.

App Development: Native vs. Cross-Platform

After finalizing the UI/UX, development begins, transforming the designs into a functional crypto wallet.

• Native Development: Ideal for high performance and platform-specific features. Build separately for iOS (Swift) and Android (Kotlin/Java). It’s more resource-intensive but offers better speed and responsiveness.
• Cross-Platform Development: Faster and cost-effective. Tools like React Native or Flutter allow a single codebase for both platforms, ensuring consistency and quicker go-to-market.

Regardless of the approach, prioritize security. Strong encryption, secure key storage, and compliance-grade wallet management are critical.

Thoroughly Test for Functionality and Security

Before launching your app, it’s essential to put it through rigorous testing. This includes security testing (to identify vulnerabilities), usability testing (to ensure a seamless user experience), and blockchain testing (to ensure the smart contracts and transactions run smoothly). Testing ensures that your app will perform efficiently and securely once it’s live.

Ongoing Maintenance and Updates

After launching, continuous monitoring and regular updates are essential for your wallet’s success. The blockchain world is constantly evolving, and your app will need to stay in sync with new updates and features from various blockchains. Additionally, ongoing security updates and scalability improvements will keep your wallet competitive in the market.

Strategies to Optimize the MetaMask-like Crypto Wallet App Development Cost

Creating a custom crypto wallet app is an investment that demands careful budget management. While it’s an exciting opportunity, ensuring that every dollar spent contributes directly to the app’s success is crucial for enterprises aiming for long-term profitability. By strategically allocating resources, you can streamline the development process, minimize unnecessary expenses, and deliver a feature-rich wallet that meets the needs of your target market.

Start with MVP Development

By developing an MVP, you can minimize your initial investment while testing the market and gathering real-world feedback. This allows your company to validate assumptions and pivot quickly, ensuring that only the most impactful features are developed, which accelerates time-to-market and maximizes ROI.

Estimated Cost: $50,000–$100,000

Leverage Open-Source Tools

Open-source libraries and frameworks like Web3.js are invaluable for reducing development time and costs. These tools come with pre-built solutions for common wallet functionalities, saving your team from reinventing the wheel. By leveraging open-source resources, you can focus on customizing your wallet to meet unique business needs and adding advanced features instead of building everything from scratch. This not only accelerates the development process but also ensures that your app remains flexible for future enhancements.

Estimated Cost Saving: Reduced development time and overall cost.

Utilize Offshore Talent for Cost Efficiency

Outsourcing to regions with competitive developer costs can drastically reduce the development budget without sacrificing quality. By hiring blockchain development agencies or developers from regions with lower operational costs, you can access top-tier talent at a fraction of the price. This gives you the opportunity to assemble an experienced team specializing in crypto app development while adhering to your budget constraints.

Estimated Cost: $50,000–$150,000 (depending on region and team size)

Want to learn more about the benefits, processes, and potential risks of outsourcing? Read our comprehensive guide on outsourcing app development.

How to Maximize ROI on Your Crypto Wallet Development Investment

The long-term returns are what truly determine the success of your crypto wallet, and here’s how you can maximize ROI as your app grows.

Crypto wallets like MetaMask can generate ongoing revenue from transaction fees. Every time a user completes a transaction or swaps assets, you can earn a small fee—typically ranging from 0.5% to 1%. While individual fees are small, they can add up significantly as your user base grows. Scaling efficiently and attracting active users will help you establish a steady stream of revenue over time.

Integrating staking functionality within your wallet opens up additional monetization channels. By facilitating staking activities, you can charge a fee for providing this service. It not only adds more value for your users by allowing them to earn rewards on their assets but also creates another stream of income for your platform.

Offering premium features through in-app purchases provides an opportunity to monetize advanced functionalities like enhanced security, NFT management tools, or access to DeFi protocols. By segmenting your offerings into free and paid tiers, you cater to both casual users and power users who seek advanced tools, all while generating revenue from feature upgrades.

Forming partnerships with DeFi platforms, NFT marketplaces, and cryptocurrency exchanges expands the wallet’s functionality and boosts user engagement. These collaborations provide access to new user bases, increase your wallet’s utility, and open doors to revenue-sharing opportunities, giving you a competitive edge in the market.

Why Choose Appinventiv as Your Blockchain Development Partner?

By now, you should have a clear understanding of how developing a MetaMask-like crypto wallet app can position your enterprise for success. At Appinventiv, our cryptocurrency exchange development services ensure that your wallet app is not just built but strategically optimized to enhance user acquisition, mitigate long-term risks, and drive future revenue growth.

We have successfully delivered impactful blockchain solutions to a diverse range of clients, including AVATUS, Nova, Empire, and others, driving measurable business outcomes. Let’s discuss what makes us a credible partner for your project’s success.

• Committed to Client Success: We have delivered 3,000+ secure, scalable, and compliant solutions across sectors like fintech, healthcare, and retail. Our client testimonials reflect our ability to scale and adapt our solutions to a wide range of industries.
• Recognition and Achievements: Our commitment to excellence has earned us multiple prestigious awards in 2025, including Top Android & Chatbot Development Company by Clutch, highlighting our consistent performance and our role as a trusted, innovative partner.
• Experienced Team Professionals: Our 1,600+ professionals bring deep expertise in blockchain, DeFi, multi-chain integrations, and security. We’re dedicated to building solutions that drive growth and meet your regulatory requirements.

Ready to develop a wallet app that not only meets the growing demand for decentralized finance but also future-proofs your enterprise’s digital transformation? Contact Appinventiv today to leverage our 10+ years of blockchain expertise and accelerate your journey to success.

FAQs

Q. How much does it cost to develop a crypto wallet app like MetaMask?

A. The cost to build a crypto wallet app like MetaMask can vary significantly depending on the complexity of features, the level of security required, and the technology stack chosen.

Here’s a breakdown of typical costs:

• Basic Wallet: For a simple wallet with features like token storage, transaction history, and basic security, the cost generally falls between $30,000 – $60,000.
• Advanced Wallet (Like MetaMask): If you want features like multi-chain support, DeFi integration, NFT support, and a user-friendly interface, the cost typically ranges from $60,000 – $150,000.
• Enterprise-Class Wallet: A fully customized wallet designed for enterprise needs ensures scalability, high-performance security, and KYC/AML compliance, critical for sustaining long-term growth and meeting regulatory standards. Costs range from $150,000 to $250,000+.

Q. How long does it take to build a crypto wallet app?

A. The timeline to build an app like MetaMask depends on the complexity of the wallet and the development approach.

• Basic Wallet: Around 3-6 months to build a simple wallet with basic functionalities.
• Advanced Wallet: For a more feature-rich wallet like MetaMask with multi-chain capabilities, DeFi integration, and NFT support, the development time may extend to 6-8 months.
• Enterprise-Level Wallet: Developing a custom enterprise-class wallet can take more than 9 months due to its complexity, need for extensive security measures, and compliance requirements.

The timeline can vary based on the team size, resources, and project scope and can be optimized through Agile development practices to deliver key features first, followed by updates.

Q. What security measures are essential for enterprise-level crypto wallets?

A. Security is paramount when developing enterprise-level crypto wallets. Essential security measures include:

• Cold Storage: Ensures that user assets are stored offline, making them less susceptible to hacks.
• Multi-Signature Wallets: Requires multiple keys to approve transactions, enhancing protection.
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adds an extra layer of security during user logins and transactions.
• Encryption: Both data encryption and encryption of wallet keys are crucial to prevent unauthorized access.
• Smart Contract Auditing: Security audits for all deployed smart contracts help prevent vulnerabilities in the wallet’s interaction with decentralized applications (DApps).
• Compliance Features: Implement KYC/AML compliance to verify users and prevent fraudulent activities.

Enterprise-level wallets must undergo thorough security audits and pen testing to ensure protection against evolving threats.

Q. Can I integrate DeFi and NFT support into a MetaMask-like wallet?

A. Yes, integrating DeFi and NFT support into a MetaMask-like wallet is one of the most powerful features businesses can add to enhance user engagement. DeFi integration allows users to interact with decentralized finance protocols directly from the wallet, such as staking, lending, and borrowing assets. Meanwhile, NFT support enables users to manage their tokenized assets, view digital collectibles, and engage with various NFT platforms directly through the wallet.

Adding these features requires careful integration with existing blockchain networks, smart contracts, and third-party platforms. However, the cost and development time for such integrations will increase as you add more advanced functionalities that require secure APIs, wallet compatibility, and ongoing updates to align with the fast-evolving DeFi and NFT ecosystems.

Q. What is the best tech stack for building a crypto wallet like MetaMask?

A. The right tech stack is essential to ensure that your crypto wallet is secure, scalable, and functional. For developing a crypto wallet like Metamask, the ideal stack should provide blockchain and multi-chain support, offering cross-platform capabilities.

Here’s a breakdown of the tech stack:

Frontend Development:

• React.js or Vue.js for building responsive, dynamic web applications.
• React Native or Flutter for mobile apps to create cross-platform compatibility (iOS and Android).

Backend Development:

• Node.js or Python to build scalable and robust backend APIs.
• MongoDB or PostgreSQL for storing user data, transaction history, and logs.

Blockchain Integration:

• Web3.js or Ethers.js for blockchain interaction, smart contract execution, and token management.
• Infura or Alchemy for node access to interact with the Ethereum blockchain (or others like Polygon, Solana, etc.).

Security:

• OpenZeppelin for smart contract auditing.
• HSMs (Hardware Security Modules) for storing private keys securely.

Hosting & Infrastructure:

• AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure for hosting the wallet’s backend and handling large volumes of transactions.
• Choosing the right stack ensures that the wallet performs efficiently while offering a secure user experience and scalability as your platform grows.

Q. How can AI be integrated into a crypto wallet like MetaMask?

A. AI can be integrated into a crypto wallet like MetaMask by embedding machine learning algorithms into various aspects of the wallet’s functionality. For instance, AI can be used for real-time transaction analysis, where machine learning models monitor every transaction to detect unusual patterns or potential fraud.

AI models can also analyze user behavior to predict and recommend tailored features, such as suggesting optimal token swaps or investment strategies based on past activity. Additionally, AI can enhance wallet security through biometric recognition, enabling personalized authentication methods, such as facial or voice recognition, to streamline the user experience.