MetaMask has introduced a non-custodial wallet for autonomous programs that can interact with on-chain markets on behalf of the user. The new tool allows such agents to perform operations in DeFi, but with spending limits, a list of approved protocols, and verification of risky transactions.
The launch shows how quickly the crypto market is changing. AI services are already moving from prompts to actions: they can search for deals, manage positions, and interact with protocols without constant manual involvement. So the main question now is not whether agents can trade, but how to limit their access to funds.
Autonomous Programs Will Get Access to On-Chain Deals
The new product is called Agent Wallet. It is designed for programs that can perform operations in Ethereum-compatible networks and work with different segments of DeFi.
Through such a wallet, an agent will be able to swap tokens, work with perpetual futures, prediction markets, and provide liquidity. In other words, this is not about passive asset storage, but about full access to financial actions on the blockchain.
For the industry, this is an important shift. Previously, a wallet was a tool for a person. Now it is becoming infrastructure for programs that can make decisions faster and more often than the user.
Limits Should Protect Funds
The main principle of the product is not to give the autonomous program full control over capital. The owner will be able to set spending limits, allowed protocols, and rules for confirming operations in advance.
The basic Guard Mode includes spending restrictions and a list of approved platforms. Additional confirmation will be required for important actions. This format reduces the risk that an agent will start interacting with an unknown contract or spend more than allowed.
Beast Mode is also provided. In it, there will be fewer confirmation requests, but suspicious operations still will not go through without human involvement. This is a compromise between speed and control.
Every Operation Will Be Checked Before Execution
Before sending a transaction, the system will run a simulation, threat analysis, and protection against MEV risks. This is necessary to see possible losses, harmful contracts, or hidden deal conditions in advance.
For autonomous trading, such verification is critical. The program can act quickly, but without restrictions, speed easily turns into risk. A strategy error, a harmful contract, or an attempt at manipulation can lead to the loss of funds in a single transaction.
If the operation looks dangerous, the wallet will stop it and request two-factor confirmation. This leaves the user with the right to make the final decision in disputed cases.
Safe Transactions Will Get Coverage
For operations that pass the check, the Transaction Protection program will apply. It provides protection against losses up to $10,000.
This does not make DeFi completely safe, but it adds an important layer of trust. The user receives not only warnings but also limited coverage in case of transaction problems.
For a wallet designed for AI scenarios, this is especially important. When a person clicks every button themselves, responsibility is simpler. When part of the decisions is delegated to a program, the infrastructure must provide more guarantees.
AI Becomes a Participant in the Crypto Market
Consensys head and Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin said that the next stage of the on-chain economy will involve not only people. According to him, agents will manage real capital and make financial decisions, so the basic infrastructure must match this level of responsibility.
This is exactly the niche the new product is trying to fill. MetaMask wants to become a wallet not only for users but also for programs that can independently work with the market.
If this format gains demand, DeFi will change. The market will need new security rules: limits, allowlists, automatic deal verification, protection against harmful contracts, and clear responsibility for mistakes.
The Launch Is Still Limited
The new wallet is available through an early access program. A broader launch is expected in the coming months.
A cautious start seems logical. A tool for autonomous programs carries more risks than a regular wallet. It is necessary to check how agents behave during volatility, strategy failures, and attempts to attack through harmful contracts.
If testing is successful, the product could become one of the first mass solutions for AI trading in DeFi. Then wallets will begin to serve not only people but also programs with real funds on balance.
What’s Next?
MetaMask is betting that AI agents will become full participants in the on-chain market. The new wallet should give them access to DeFi, but without uncontrolled access to the user’s money.
The main test will be security. If limits, transaction simulation, MEV protection, and two-factor confirmation work reliably, this approach could become the standard for autonomous operations in cryptocurrencies.
For now, the market is just entering this phase. But the direction is already clear: the wallet stops being just an interface for a person and turns into a control system for programs that can trade, allocate liquidity, and manage capital.
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