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Atomic Wallet vs MetaMask

Comparing
two wallets
Decided by
Editorial rating
Last reviewed
2026-08-26
Atomic Wallet1.2Warning

Do not keep bitcoin here: over 5,500 wallets were emptied in June 2023 and the cause was never published.

MetaMask3.0

MetaMask holds real bitcoin since December 15, 2025, but it is still an Ethereum wallet with a BTC address attached.

Verdict: MetaMask

MetaMask rates higher on our rubric: 3.0 against 1.2 for Atomic Wallet.

Criterion
Editorial rating
Atomic Wallet
1.2
MetaMask
3.0

Atomic Wallet and MetaMask, fact by fact

Every row is from the two reviews as of their review dates, with sources on each. A check marks the side a decidable criterion favours; rows without one are information, not a score.

Atomic Wallet and MetaMask compared fact by fact from their reviews; a check marks the side a decidable criterion favours.
FactAtomic WalletMetaMask
Editorial rating1.23.0 (favoured on this row)
StatusCaution: see the reviewAvailable
Made byAtomic WalletConsensys
PriceFree downloadFree download
Who holds the keysself-custodial, keys generated on your device and encrypted with your passwordself-custodial, keys generated on your device from a 12 word Secret Recovery Phrase Consensys never sees
Bitcoin-onlyNoNo
Runs oniOS, Android, Windows, macOS, LinuxiOS, Android, Browser extension
ScreenNot statedNot stated
ConnectivityNot statedNot stated
Released20172016
Countries on the maker's listNo published list228
Last reviewed2026-08-262026-08-25

Pros and cons, side by side

Atomic Wallet

What works

  • Keys are held on your device, so a working install still lets you move your own coins out
  • Desktop builds are published for Windows, macOS, Ubuntu, Debian and Fedora, with a hashsum check for the download
  • One app covers bitcoin and more than a thousand other assets, which is why so many people kept so much in it

What to watch

  • More than 5,500 wallets were drained on June 2 and 3, 2023, for over $100 million by Elliptic's count
  • Atomic has never published a confirmed technical cause, offering four possibilities and picking none
  • No compensation has been paid to the people who lost money
  • Its first public statements put the damage at under 0.1% and then under 1% of users, which the on-chain evidence contradicted
  • The first class action was thrown out in 2024 on jurisdiction rather than on the facts, and a second is now pending in California
  • The homepage says nothing about the incident and still runs testimonials from a man who died in 2021

MetaMask

What works

  • Native bitcoin support since December 15, 2025, with a BTC address generated for you automatically
  • Swaps from Ethereum, other EVM networks or Solana into bitcoin without leaving the wallet
  • Buying supports debit and credit cards, Apple Pay, PayPal and bank transfer, depending on your region
  • Keys are generated on your device, and Consensys holds nothing it could freeze or reset
  • The extension almost every dapp is tested against, so connections rarely break

What to watch

  • Bitcoin support is native SegWit only: MetaMask's own announcement says Taproot is still to come
  • The app now bundles perpetual futures at up to 50x leverage, prediction markets and tokenized stocks next to your keys
  • Those extra products carry their own eligibility rules, which are separate from the wallet and change without notice
  • A hot wallet in a browser extension or phone app, with no secure element and no offline signing
  • Bitcoin is one chain among many, and the product's center of gravity is Ethereum

Frequently asked questions

Is Atomic Wallet or MetaMask better?

MetaMask rates higher on our rubric: 3.0 against 1.2 for Atomic Wallet. The rating follows the product rubric published on our about page; the rows above set custody, price and platforms side by side so you can check it.

Are Atomic Wallet and MetaMask free?

Yes, both are free to download. What differs is who holds the keys: Atomic Wallet is self-custodial, keys generated on your device and encrypted with your password; MetaMask is self-custodial, keys generated on your device from a 12 word Secret Recovery Phrase Consensys never sees.

Is Atomic Wallet or MetaMask bitcoin-only?

Neither: both support assets beyond bitcoin. Atomic Wallet: Bitcoin plus more than 1,000 other coins and tokens, by Atomic's own count. MetaMask: Ethereum and EVM networks, Solana, Monad and Sei, plus native bitcoin since December 15, 2025.

Does Atomic Wallet or MetaMask carry a warning?

Atomic Wallet: On June 2 and 3, 2023, more than 5,500 Atomic Wallet users had their balances emptied in a single coordinated event. Elliptic put the total above $100 million and attributed it to North Korea's Lazarus Group. Atomic Wallet has never published a confirmed technical cause and no compensation has been paid. The first US class action was dismissed in September 2024 for lack of personal jurisdiction rather than on the facts, and a second was filed in California in June 2025. The company's own homepage carries no mention of any of it.

The full reviews: Atomic Wallet and MetaMask, each with its sources, and every wallet we review.

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