According to reports, Microsoft is trying to incorporate a Web3 wallet that is compatible with crypto and non-fungible tokens (NFT) into its Edge web browser.
#Microsoft just launched a native web 3 wallet for its browser. Pretty soon every browser and every device will ship with a web 3 wallet built in. The lines between an "account" and a "wallet" are going to get blurred. Bigtech stepping into finance. pic.twitter.com/uZuIL0FV1T
— Granit Walletor (We're hiring) (@granitacademy) March 19, 2023
Albacore published a set of alleged Edge user interface (UI) photos depicting the early phases of the company’s new Web3 wallet in a thread on Twitter on March 17.
“Newest in the gauntlet of questionable upcoming Microsoft Edge features, a crypto wallet not really sure how to feel about this kind of thing being baked into the default browser,” Albacore noted.
Newest in the gauntlet of questionable upcoming Microsoft Edge features, a crypto wallet 💸
Not really sure how to feel about this kind of thing being baked into the default browser, what are your thoughts?
More screenshots of the UI in the next tweet ➡️ pic.twitter.com/GAUPiZGLIY— Albacore (@thebookisclosed) March 17, 2023
The first image shows the Edge wallet’s introduction page. Microsoft appears to have noted the following: “we encourage you to test our first Web3 wallet and provide candid feedback along the journey.”
If confirmed, it would indicate that the wallet would be noncustodial, that Microsoft would not have access to user passwords or recovery keys, and that it would be “integrated into Edge” rather than a separate browser plugin.
Swap, send and buy crypto assets, with Coinbase and MoonPay. Source: Edge
The screenshots that go with this article illustrate the ability to transmit, swap, and acquire cryptocurrency assets. The integrated “platforms that allow you purchase and deposit crypto to your wallet” are cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase and Web3 infrastructure provider MoonPay.
Microsoft may take this action as part of a recent push to considerably expand Edge’s offers and functionalities. Edge has traditionally trailed behind rivals like Google’s Chrome and Apple’s Safari in terms of popularity.
