This article is the continuation of the Satochip Metamask series which will show you how to use the Metamask extension as well as the Satochip hardware wallet. Today, you will learn how to use your Satochip hardware wallet with the Metamask extension.
Table of content
- Prerequisites
- Satochip Bridge
- Card initialization
- Install the Satochip Metamask extension
- Create your first Metamask account
- Connect your Satochip hardware wallet
1. Prerequisites
In order to use the Metamask extension with your Satochip hardware wallet you will need :
- A Satochip hardware wallet (and its USB reader (or NFC)).
- The Satochip Bridge : it’s a tiny python client that will allow you to manage your hardware wallet. Furthermore, the bridge will act as an interface between the Satochip card and the Satochip Metamask extension — now called SatoMask.
- The Satochip Metamask aka SatoMask extension : it’s a fork of the official Metamask extension that includes all the necessary Satochip librairies. Run it from the sources, or download it on the Chrome web extension store.
- The Chrome or Brave web browser
Although the Metamask is a web extension, you will not be able to use it under MacOS because of the Satochip Bridge uncompatibility. So far, the Bridge is available on Linux and Windows (10+).
⚠️ Note : please be sure to download the Satochip softwares from the official Satochip repository : https://github.com/Toporin
2. Satochip Bridge
The Satochip Bridge is a thin client that will act as an interface between the Satochip card and the Metamask extension. The Bridge provides all the necessary tools to manage your Satochip card, main features are :
- Initialize a new Satochip card,
- Setup the card with a new PIN code,
- Setup the card with a new BIP39 seed,
- Create a bridge between the card and the client,
- Reset the card (by reseting the seed),
- Reset the PIN code,
- Enable or disable the 2FA,
- Grab the card informations.
🐧 Linux users :
In a command line interface (CLI), make the downloaded Satochip Bridge AppImage file exacutable using the following command line :
chmod +x Satochip-Bridge-latest.AppImage
Using the same CLI, launch the Satochip Bridge :
./ Satochip-Bridge-latest.AppImage
Now, the Satochip Bridge is launched and ready to listen to your Satochip card.
When the hardware wallet is not connected, you should see a red Ginkgo leaf on your dashboard :
When the hardware wallet is connected, you should see a green Ginkgo leaf on your dashboard :
🖱️ Windows users :
Right click on Satochip-Bridge-latest.exe file and execute it as an Administrator.
When the hardware wallet is not connected, you should see a red Ginkgo leaf on your systray :
When the hardware wallet is connected, you should see a green Ginkgo leaf on your dashboard :
3. Card initialization
As said previously, your Satochip card comes non initialized, that means there is no seed preloaded or any other key inside the secure chip.
To create or retreive your own private key, your own seed, go to the Satochip Bridge menu by clicking to the green Ginkgo leaf on your dashboard and select “Setup new Satochip” :
The wizard will ask you to set up your very own PIN code (up to 16 chars) to secure the access to your card :
Choose your personal PIN code and repeat it twice. Beware to safely store it somewhere because you will need it everytime you want to access your keys on the hardware wallet :
Choose whether or not you want to use the 2FA Android application (or run it from the official sources) that will allow you to confirm every single transaction using an Android phone. If 2FA is enabled, be sure to backup the 2FA secret !
Choose if you want to create a new seed or use an existing one. If you select “I already have a seed”, be sure to provide a valid BIP39 seed :
In this example we choose to “Create a new seed” :
⚠️ Note : Please be sure to copy/paste the generated seed in a safe place. Along with the PIN code, these are the two required informations to restore your Satochip hardware wallet !
As a kind reminder, the wizard will ask you to paste your seed to be sure you have it in a safe place :
😀 By following those steps, you created a fully functionnal BIP39 compliant Satochip hardware wallet ! Congratulations ! Stack some sats and chill …
4. Install the Satochip Metamask extension
Metamask is a web extension that will allow you to interract with the blockchain. You can learn more about Metamask in our dedicated article :
👉“Metamask — How to create an Ethereum software wallet in 5 easy steps”
In order to use the Metamask Satochip extension, you will need to get the web browser Chrome (or Brave). For our tests, we use the version v.91.0.4472.124 (official build).
The Metamask extension installation is quite easy, open your Chrome web browser and go to the official Chrome Web Store to download the Metamask Satochip extension.
If everything run smoothly, you should now see this screen and an new tab with the Metamask page :
More information on how to add a Chrome extension : https://support.google.com/chrome_webstore/answer/2664769?hl=en
More information on how to add a Brave extension : https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/360017909112-How-can-I-add-extensions-to-Brave-
5. Create your first Metamask account
The very first time you open the Metamask extension, you will have to create a software wallet. A so-called software wallet is a crypto-currency wallet which stores private keys locally on your computer.
We will assume you already have a Metamask account — or at least you know how to create it. If you need a step by step tutorial to create your software wallet and be ready to start with Metamask, you can read our recent article :
👉“Metamask — How to create an Ethereum software wallet in 5 easy steps”
⚠️ Note : the account you will create within Metamask is not linked — or not the same — as the one you create on your Satochip hardware wallet using the Satochip Bridge. We strongly encourage you NOT TO USE the same seed phrase you’ve put previously to initialize your hardware wallet.
6. Connect your Satochip hardware wallet
To connect your Satochip hardware wallet, click on your avatar, on the top of the screen and select “Connect Hardware Wallet”.
Now it’s time to plug your Satochip hardware wallet in the card reader or us it with your NFC reader. The Satochip Bridge leaf on your systray should turn to green.
You can select the “Satochip” option in the hardware wallet connection field and press Next :
A new tab will be opened and the Satochip Bridge will pop up a Connection Confirmation screen. The Bridge is simply asking you if you want to connect your Satochip hardware wallet with Metamask. Click on “Yes”. And put your PIN code to unlock the card.
That’s it ! Easy as that ! Your Satochip is now connected with Metamask and the extension asks you what address you want to use.
⚠️ Note : Metamask has now two open wallets :
- The “Account 1” which is the default Metamask SOFTWARE wallet.
- The “Satochip 1” which is your HARDWARE wallet.
If you want to jump from one wallet to another, just click on your avatar (on the top right) and select the account you want to see and want to use.Of course, you can send token from one wallet to another.
Et voilà ! You have now a fully functional, easy to use and open-source Ethereum hardware wallet thanks to the Metamask Satochip client.
Icing on the cake : your private keys are now safely isolated in an secure chip within your Satochip hardware wallet.
More information about Metamask
Metamask provide a very helpful documentation where you can learn more about this incredible extension ! The official Metamask knowledge base is the one stop shop to know more about Metamask, the custom tokens, seeds, how to use it and so on.
More information about Satochip
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