BOB is one of the fastest-growing Bitcoin Layer 2 networks, but MetaMask doesn’t include it out of the box. If you’ve tried to switch to BOB and found it’s not in your network list, that’s normal — MetaMask only ships with a handful of built-in networks, and everything else has to be added by you.
The good news: adding BOB to MetaMask takes about two minutes and only requires a few network settings. In this guide, you’ll learn what BOB is, why you might want it in your wallet, and how to add it safely step by step. You’ll also learn how to check that everything worked and what to watch out for along the way.
id=”what-is-bob”>What Is BOB?
BOB stands for “Build on Bitcoin.” It is a Layer 2 network that brings Bitcoin into the world of Ethereum-style smart contracts and decentralized apps. Instead of trying to force new features onto Bitcoin itself, BOB runs as a separate network that is designed to work closely with Bitcoin’s security model over time.
Technically, BOB is built on the OP Stack — the same open-source toolkit behind Optimism and a growing family of Ethereum Layer 2s. As of this guide’s writing, it uses optimistic rollup technology with Ethereum as its data availability layer, and its roadmap aims to deepen its connection to Bitcoin, including plans around merged mining. The native gas token on BOB is ETH, just like on Ethereum and many Ethereum-based Layer 2s. That means every transaction on BOB costs a small amount of ETH, and the BOB network itself does not have its own native coin for gas.
One thing worth clearing up: when people say “BOB,” they sometimes mean the network, and sometimes mean the BOB token that lives on it (and on Ethereum and BNB Smart Chain). Adding the network to MetaMask is what this guide covers. Adding the BOB token to your wallet so its balance shows up is a separate, optional step at the end.
For beginners, the key idea is simple: BOB is another EVM-compatible network, which means it speaks the same language as Ethereum. If you know how to use MetaMask on Ethereum, you already know how to use it on BOB — the only difference is that you first have to tell MetaMask the network’s settings.
Why Add BOB to MetaMask?
You only need BOB in MetaMask if you plan to actually use the network. Here are the realistic reasons most people add it:
You want to use apps on BOB. Bridges, decentralized exchanges, lending protocols, and staking products are launching on BOB, and MetaMask is the most widely supported wallet for interacting with them. If a dapp asks you to “switch to BOB,” you need the network saved in your wallet.
You’re following Bitcoin DeFi. One of BOB’s main goals is letting BTC holders earn yield or use their bitcoin in DeFi-style applications without selling it. If that use case interests you, the BOB network is where those experiments are happening.
You received assets on BOB. If someone sent you tokens on the BOB network — or you bridged assets there yourself — they won’t appear in MetaMask until you add the network. Your assets aren’t lost; they’re just invisible until your wallet knows where to look.
That said, don’t feel pressured to add every new network you read about. Each network you add increases your attack surface slightly, because malicious sites can try to trick you into switching to a fake version of a network. A sensible rule of thumb: only add networks you have a real reason to use right now. You can always add more later, and you can always remove networks you no longer need.
Two Ways to Add BOB: Auto vs Manual
There are two ways to get BOB into MetaMask. Both work; they just suit different comfort levels.
Method 1: One-click auto-add. Some websites — network directories and the BOB project’s own pages — have an “Add to Wallet” button. When you click it, the site asks MetaMask to add the network for you, and MetaMask pops up showing the exact network details for your approval. You review, click approve, and you’re done. This is the fastest method and the least error-prone, because there’s no typing involved.
Method 2: Manual entry. You open MetaMask’s settings, choose “Add a network manually,” and type in the network name, RPC URL, chain ID, currency symbol, and block explorer yourself. This takes a couple of minutes and requires more care, but it works entirely inside MetaMask with no third-party site involved.
| Auto-add (one-click) | Manual entry | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fastest — under a minute | A few minutes |
| Typing errors | None — fields fill themselves | Possible — must double-check every field |
| Third-party site involved | Yes — you approve a site’s suggestion | No — everything stays inside MetaMask |
| What you must verify | The popup details before approving | Each field against a trusted source |
| Best for | Beginners who trust the source site | Cautious users who want full control |
Either way, the most important moment is the same: before you confirm, check that the network details are exactly right. A fake network with a look-alike name or a slightly wrong chain ID is one of the classic ways scammers target wallet users. Whichever method you choose, the details in the next section are the reference to check against.
Adding BOB Manually, Step by Step
Here is the manual method in full. It’s also useful to read even if you plan to use the auto-add button, because it teaches you what correct BOB settings look like — which is exactly what you check in the approval popup.
The correct BOB network details (as of this guide’s writing — always double-check against the project’s official docs, typed into your browser yourself):
- Network name: BOB
- New RPC URL: rpc.gobob.xyz
- Chain ID: 60808
- Currency symbol: ETH
- Block explorer URL: explorer.gobob.xyz
The RPC URL is the server MetaMask talks to. Type the addresses yourself rather than clicking links in messages or social media posts, and don’t trust a “helpful” stranger’s RPC — a malicious RPC endpoint can in theory log your IP address and the requests your wallet makes. The chain ID is the single most important number: it is what uniquely identifies the network. 60808 is BOB’s. If anything you see shows a different chain ID for a network calling itself BOB, stop.
Step 1: Open MetaMask. Open the MetaMask extension in your browser (or the mobile app — the steps are nearly identical) and unlock your wallet.
Step 2: Open the network menu. Click the network dropdown at the top of the wallet (it probably says “Ethereum Mainnet” right now) and select Add network.
Step 3: Choose manual entry. MetaMask shows a list of popular networks. If BOB isn’t listed there, scroll down and click Add a network manually at the bottom.
Step 4: Enter the details. Fill in each field exactly as listed above: network name, RPC URL, chain ID (60808), currency symbol (ETH), and the block explorer URL. Double-check every character — a single wrong digit in the chain ID connects you to the wrong network entirely.
Step 5: Save and switch. Click Save. MetaMask will ask whether you want to switch to the new network — click Switch network to start using BOB right away, or stay where you are and switch later.
That’s it. BOB now lives in your network dropdown alongside Ethereum and any other networks you’ve added. For a more general walkthrough of the same flow on other networks, see how to add Polygon to MetaMask — the steps are the same pattern, just with different settings.
How to Check You Did It Right
Once BOB is saved, run through these quick checks before you send any funds:
Check the chain ID. In MetaMask, go to Settings → Networks, find BOB, and confirm the chain ID reads 60808. This is the one number that can’t be faked without being obvious — get it right and you’re almost certainly on the real network.
Check the gas token. Switch to the BOB network. Your balance should display in ETH (the gas token), even if it’s zero. If the currency symbol shows something else, something went wrong during setup.
Check the block explorer. Paste your wallet address into the block explorer (explorer.gobob.xyz, typed by you) and see if it loads. If the explorer resolves and looks like a normal block explorer, the network entry is healthy.
Send a tiny test transaction. Before moving any meaningful amount of ETH to BOB for gas, send a very small amount first and confirm it arrives. This is the universal rule for any new network, and it’s worth following every time. Our guide on switching networks in MetaMask safely covers this habit in more detail.
Optionally add the BOB token. Adding the network lets you use BOB; adding the token lets you see your BOB token balance. In MetaMask, switch to the BOB network, click “Import tokens,” and paste the official BOB token contract address from the project’s own documentation. Type the docs address yourself — token contracts are a favorite target for impersonators, and importing the wrong contract just shows a fake balance.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using the wrong chain ID. This is the big one. A wrong chain ID means you’re connected to a completely different network — or to nothing at all. Funds sent “to BOB” with wrong settings can end up somewhere you can’t easily recover them from. Always verify 60808.
Confusing the BOB token with the BOB network. Newcomers sometimes import the BOB token contract while still on Ethereum, then wonder why they can’t use BOB apps. The network and the token are two different things: add the network to use BOB, import the token to see BOB balances.
Forgetting that gas is paid in ETH. Because BOB’s currency symbol is ETH, beginners sometimes assume their Ethereum-mainnet ETH automatically works on BOB. It doesn’t — networks are separate. You need ETH on the BOB network to pay for transactions there, which usually means bridging it over.
Adding BOB from an unverified link. As mentioned above, phishing pages that mimic “add network” flows are common. If the first result you clicked was an ad or a link from a random social media reply, close it and start from an address you typed yourself.
Adding the testnet by accident. BOB also has a test network (chain ID 808813) for developers. If you add that instead of mainnet, you’ll be on a network with worthless test tokens and no real apps. Unless you’re a developer testing a contract, you want chain ID 60808 — the mainnet. Our Soneium setup guide shows the same mainnet-vs-testnet distinction on another network.
Panicking when the balance shows zero. After adding BOB, your ETH balance on that network will read zero until you bridge or receive funds there. That’s expected — it doesn’t mean anything went wrong, and it doesn’t affect your balances on other networks.
FAQs
The Bottom Line
Adding BOB to MetaMask is a two-minute job: either approve a one-click add from a trusted site, or enter the network details manually — network name BOB, RPC rpc.gobob.xyz, chain ID 60808, currency ETH — and save. Verify the chain ID, send a tiny test transaction before moving real funds, and remember that gas on BOB is paid in ETH.
The only real danger in this process is phishing: fake network pages and look-alike details. Type addresses yourself, read every approval popup, and you’ll be fine. Once BOB is in your wallet, you’re ready to explore Bitcoin Layer 2 apps with the same MetaMask you already know.
This guide is for education only — not financial advice.
