Microsoft is reportedly working on a non-custodial cryptocurrency wallet for its Edge browser, which will allow users to send and receive cryptocurrencies and NFTs. Screenshots of the wallet indicate that it will support Coinbase and Moonpay, and provide NFT functionality. Microsoft is developing the wallet for internal testing and it is not yet available to Insiders.
The wallet is embedded in Edge, meaning that it is easy to use without the installation of any extension. It supports multiple types of cryptocurrency and will record transactions and the value of individual currencies.
It also has an “explore” tab to offer news stories on cryptocurrency and an “assets” tab that will display NFTs. The wallet is non-custodial, which means that the user is in complete control of their funds, and Microsoft will not have access to the password and recovery key.
Microsoft has been adding various shopping and money-related features to Edge since it became a Chromium-based browser. In 2021, the company faced criticism for adding a “buy now, pay later” financing feature to Edge.
The company has been pushing users to Edge with regular updates, and the browser pushes users to use Microsoft services. The addition of the crypto wallet could encourage users to explore the world of cryptocurrencies, but also raises concerns about the prevalence of crypto scams.
It is unclear whether Microsoft will release the wallet to Edge users. The company regularly tests features in its software that do not make it into general-release versions. In any case, the addition of a trustworthy built-in option for cryptocurrency wallets may be useful for users who are wary of installing third-party extensions.
