What Is Fantom and How to Add Fantom Network to MetaMask

Fantom’s Positioning and Core Design

(Source: fantom.foundation)

Fantom is a Layer-1 blockchain engineered specifically for decentralized applications and digital assets. Its design goal is straightforward: balance speed, cost, and scalability to address the blockchain trilemma that has challenged the industry for years.

To achieve this, Fantom employs a technical architecture distinct from traditional blockchains. Its foundation uses a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure combined with the Lachesis consensus mechanism, enabling the network to deliver high throughput, fast transaction confirmations, and low fees.

Why Fantom Excels in Speed and Developer Flexibility

Fantom’s mainnet, Opera, is fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). This compatibility allows applications originally built on Ethereum to migrate to the Fantom ecosystem with minimal friction.

Developers can leverage Fantom’s faster transaction speeds and lower costs without making significant changes to their existing codebase. This ease of migration is a key reason Fantom is frequently compared to Ethereum.

Setting Up MetaMask Wallet

Before connecting to the Fantom network, users need to set up a MetaMask wallet. MetaMask is a widely used browser-based wallet that supports interactions with multiple blockchains. Download the extension from the official website, follow the setup instructions to create a new wallet, set a secure password, and carefully back up your seed phrase. The seed phrase is essential for wallet recovery and should be stored offline in a secure location.

Once these steps are complete, MetaMask can add and manage various blockchain networks.

How to Add the Fantom Network to MetaMask

Below are the steps to add the Fantom Opera mainnet to MetaMask. The process is simple and intuitive.

Step 1: Open MetaMask

Click the MetaMask icon in your browser’s upper right corner to access the wallet interface.

Step 2: Go to Settings

Click the profile icon and select “Settings” to enter the wallet configuration menu.

Step 3: Add a Blockchain Network

In Settings, locate “Networks,” then select “Add Network.”

Step 4: Enter Fantom Network Details

If Fantom appears in the system list, select and add it directly. Otherwise, manually input the following information:

• Network Name: Fantom Opera
• New RPC URL: https://rpc.ankr.com/fantom/
• Chain ID: 250
• Symbol: FTM
• Block Explorer URL: https://ftmscan.com/

Step 5: Save and Switch Networks

After saving your settings, switch to Fantom using the network dropdown menu to complete the configuration.

What Can You Do After Setup?

Once connected to the Fantom network, MetaMask enables direct interaction with decentralized applications in the Fantom ecosystem, including asset management and trading. No additional wallet installation is required, making the process straightforward for both users and developers.

Brand Revamp and Technology Upgrade Highlights

In August 2024, Fantom (FTM) officially announced its rebranding to Sonic. The foundation transitioned to Sonic Labs, and the native token was upgraded from FTM to S. This change is more than a brand update—it marks a fundamental upgrade to the underlying architecture with the launch of Sonic Chain, a new high-performance Layer-1 network. Sonic Chain features cutting-edge speed and scalability, supporting over 10,000 transactions per second (TPS) while maintaining full EVM compatibility. This allows seamless integration with Ethereum and Layer-2 ecosystems, delivering sub-second transaction confirmations.

Major exchanges now support 1:1 swaps between FTM and S, with the full transition scheduled for early 2025. FTM has already been delisted. The new S token will enter the ecosystem through airdrops, staking rewards, and other incentives, serving as the core asset for Sonic network operations and incentives.

Conclusion

Fantom—now Sonic—embodies a clear, performance-driven design philosophy across its architecture, developer compatibility, and user experience. By leveraging DAG and Lachesis consensus to overcome performance bottlenecks, lowering migration barriers with EVM compatibility, and launching the high-TPS, low-latency Sonic Chain after its rebrand, Sonic positions itself as a standout in the public blockchain sector. With the upgraded token system and ecosystem incentives rolling out, Sonic is poised to become a vital infrastructure connecting the Ethereum ecosystem with high-performance Layer-1 applications.