Can I Add Bittensor to MetaMask?

Yes, you can add Bittensor to MetaMask through Subtensor EVM, a full Ethereum Virtual Machine runtime that operates as an application layer on the Bittensor blockchain. Solidity contracts deploy on Subtensor without code changes, and MetaMask treats the network like any other EVM chain.

The mainnet EVM went live under Chain ID 964, so the network you add today handles real TAO rather than test tokens. With the connection in place, MetaMask becomes your gateway to Bittensor's growing DeFi layer, covering everything from TAO transfers to subnet token swaps.

How to Add Bittensor EVM to MetaMask

ChainList, the network aggregator maintained by the DefiLlama team, carries verified settings for Subtensor EVM and remains the safest way to connect. Bittensor's own developer documentation points users to the same ChainList page for one-click setup.

Follow these 4 steps to connect:

1. Open ChainList: Go to the Subtensor EVM page on ChainList and click "Connect Wallet".
2. Approve the Connection: Allow ChainList to communicate with your MetaMask extension.
3. Add the Network: Click "Add to MetaMask" and review the RPC details in the pop-up.
4. Switch Networks: Confirm the prompt, then select Subtensor from MetaMask's network menu.

Bittensor EVM RPC and Chain ID

Prefer manual setup? Open MetaMask, head to Settings, then Networks, then "Add a network manually", and enter the mainnet values below. These match the official Bittensor EVM documentation, which you should always cross-check before saving.

• Network Name: Subtensor
• RPC URL: https://lite.chain.opentensor.ai
• Chain ID: 964
• Currency Symbol: TAO
• Block Explorer: https://evm.taostats.io

Developers who want a sandbox first can use the testnet instead, which runs on Chain ID 945 with the RPC URL https://test.chain.opentensor.ai. Test TAO is available on request through the Bittensor developer docs. Keep the two networks clearly labelled in MetaMask so you never sign a mainnet transaction believing it costs nothing.

How to Fund Your MetaMask Wallet with TAO

Funding a Bittensor EVM account works differently from most chains, and this step catches out more users than the network setup itself. Your MetaMask address uses Ethereum's H160 format (starting with 0x), while exchanges and native Bittensor wallets operate on Substrate's SS58 format (starting with 5).

Every H160 address has an SS58 mirror that receives funds on its behalf. Convert your MetaMask address using the official conversion guide, then withdraw TAO from your exchange or native wallet to that SS58 version. The balance appears in MetaMask automatically. Alternatively, the Bittensor EVM Bridge moves TAO between your native Subtensor wallet and your EVM wallet in either direction.

Decimal handling also differs between the two sides. Native TAO uses 9 decimal places while the EVM layer displays 18, though the protocol manages the conversion and your balance stays accurate.

Best Bittensor Wallets for Native TAO

MetaMask covers the EVM layer only. Core network actions such as staking to subnets, delegating to validators, and holding TAO on the Substrate side require a wallet that signs SS58 transactions, and the official Bittensor wallet directory lists the options the network itself recognises.

• Bittensor Wallet: The official Chrome extension, with built-in staking tools and Ledger support.
• TAO.com App: The official mobile wallet, evolved from the original Opentensor Foundation app, covering staking and everyday transfers.
• Talisman: A multi-chain extension that manages Substrate and EVM accounts side by side, useful if you hold TAO alongside ETH or DOT.
• SubWallet and Nova Wallet: Polkadot-ecosystem wallets with full Bittensor support, with Nova being the stronger mobile option.
• Ledger: Hardware cold storage for TAO through the Polkadot app, paired with Talisman, SubWallet, or Nova as the interface per the official Ledger guide.

Running one of these alongside MetaMask gives you the complete picture, with the native wallet handling staking and delegation while MetaMask covers smart contracts and DeFi. Our guide to the best crypto wallets compares the leading multi-chain options in more depth.

What You Can Do on Bittensor EVM

The EVM layer has matured from a developer preview into a functioning DeFi ecosystem, and MetaMask is the front door to most of it. TaoFi, built by contributors from Sturdy and Subnet 10, anchors the current suite with a Hyperlane-powered bridge for moving USDC in from Ethereum and Base, taoUSD as the network's first native stablecoin, and sTAO, a liquid staking token that earns TAO staking rewards while remaining tradable.

Subnet tokens are the bigger draw for many traders. Since Bittensor's Dynamic TAO upgrade, every subnet has issued its own alpha token priced through an on-chain AMM pool, and TaoFi lets you swap into these native tokens directly from a MetaMask wallet on Base. Cross-chain infrastructure from Hyperlane and LayerZero connects Bittensor EVM to the wider multichain landscape, so expect the list of reachable AI crypto assets to keep growing.

Gas on the network is paid in TAO, with fees typically far below Ethereum mainnet levels. You can verify any transaction on Taostats EVM, the official Blockscout-based explorer for the chain.

About Bittensor

Bittensor is a decentralised network for building and accessing artificial intelligence. Specialised marketplaces called subnets host competition between miners, who produce AI work such as inference or training, and validators, who score that work through the network's Yuma Consensus mechanism. Rewards are paid in TAO, which carries a fixed 21 million supply cap modelled on Bitcoin.

The network has changed substantially since the EVM launched. The Dynamic TAO upgrade in early 2025 gave each subnet its own tradable alpha token, the first halving in December 2025 cut daily emissions from roughly 7,200 TAO to 3,600 TAO, and the Robin τ upgrade doubled subnet capacity from 128 to 256 slots. Together these shifts have pushed real economic activity onto the chain, which is precisely what the EVM layer and MetaMask access are designed to serve.

Final Thoughts

Adding Bittensor to MetaMask now takes a minute through ChainList, and the payoff is broader than it was a year ago. A single wallet handles TAO transfers, subnet token trading, stablecoin liquidity, and liquid staking across an ecosystem that finally has native DeFi rails.

Double-check the Chain ID reads 964 before you transact, and confirm any RPC details against the official Bittensor documentation. Copying settings from unverified sources is the easiest way to end up on a malicious network.