Developers at privacy-centric web browser Brave have confirmed that the application will soon ship with an Ethereum wallet built-in.

Based on screenshots from a Github Pull Request submitted to the Brave Repository on June 25, 2019, the feature will allow users to either create a new wallet or import an existing one using the twelve-word seed phrase.

Third party integrations also seem to be on the way and will give users the ability to link their hardware wallet with the browser.

More Wallet Choices to Come

While the current stable version of Brave Browser already includes a cryptocurrency wallet, it is extremely barebones and only capable of storing Basic Attention Tokens (BAT).

Advertisement Continue reading below

Unlike a traditional desktop or hardware wallet, Brave’s wallet implementation does not allow users to simply withdraw their BAT to a cryptocurrency exchange or third party address. In fact, users can only take control of their earned tokens once they sign up for a Brave Publisher Account, create another wallet with Uphold, and tip themselves. This three-step process makes withdrawing BAT much more convoluted for first-time users. Furthermore, Uphold requires users to complete a KYC verification process — which essentially eliminates anonymity for BAT users.

Brave’s upcoming Ethereum wallet is notable because it has been described as a full-fledged wallet implementation that can also be used to access dApps and store various ERC-20 tokens. According to a Reddit comment posted by a member of the BAT team, users will eventually be able to send their earnings from the Brave Rewards program to external wallets as well.

Acknowledging the community’s dissatisfaction with Uphold, the representative said that more wallet options will be rolled out in the coming months.

Browser Competition Heats Up

While Brave was the first cryptocurrency-oriented web browser, it is no longer the only option for enthusiasts of the technology.

In April, Opera announced a new ‘blockchain-friendly’ web browser that would include a cryptocurrency wallet, Web 3 explorer, and be capable of completing transactions. The company also rolled out a free, unlimited VPN offering on desktop and mobile.

In other Brave related news, the development team announced a partnership with hardware authentication key manufacturer Yubico. According to a tweet published June 24, Brave Browser on iOS will soon support YubiKey 5Ci security keys. The feature is currently being demonstrated at Identiverse in Washington DC and will launch alongside the 5Ci keys themselves later this year.

Are you looking forward to having a fully featured Ethereum wallet built into Brave Browser soon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.