Dan Finlay, co-founder of MetaMask and a longtime developer at Consensys, has announced that he is leaving the company.
Summary
- Dan Finlay said he is leaving Consensys after helping build MetaMask over the past decade.
- MetaMask launched Advanced Permissions, letting dApps execute approved transactions without requiring users to sign each time.
- The new feature could support recurring crypto payments with user-set spending limits and clearer permissions.
In a post on X, Finlay said Wednesday was his “last day” at Consensys after about 10 years of work on the crypto wallet.
Finlay said he plans to spend more time with his family and cited “burnout” after years of building MetaMask. His exit marks a leadership change for one of the best-known wallet products in the Ethereum ecosystem.
“Wishing the team the best — they have an amazing road ahead of them,” he wrote.
MetaMask expands beyond Ethereum
MetaMask launched in 2016 under Consensys and became one of the most widely used Ethereum wallets on desktop and mobile. The product helped many users access decentralized applications and manage digital assets during the rise of decentralized finance, NFTs, and other blockchain-based services.
Over time, MetaMask expanded beyond its early Ethereum focus. The wallet added support for more networks, including non-EVM chains such as Bitcoin and Tron. It also moved into newer product areas such as prediction markets, tokenized stocks, and a payment card launched with Mastercard that offers cashback in mUSD.
Soon after announcing his departure, Finlay pointed to the release of Advanced Permissions, also known as ERC-7715. The feature lets decentralized applications request specific permissions from users so they can carry out approved actions without asking for a fresh signature every time.
According to MetaMask’s developer documentation, the system can support use cases such as scheduled purchases or repeated onchain actions with set limits. One example states that a user can allow a dApp to spend “10 USDC per day” to buy ETH over a month. Once approved, the application can use that daily amount directly from the user’s wallet under the permission settings.
New feature targets recurring crypto payments
The new permissions model focuses on reducing friction for users who interact with applications often. Instead of approving every single transaction, users can set rules in advance. That structure may help apps offer smoother payment flows and more consistent user experiences inside the wallet.
Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm reacted to the update on X and called the feature “extremely important.”
“Finally, the crypto market can offer something everyone has envied about Visa and Mastercard — recurring payment systems, which crypto hasn’t had,” he added.
His response points to one possible use case as MetaMask continues product development after Finlay’s exit.
