According to software documenter Albacore, Microsoft is possibly testing a Web3 wallet on its Edge web browser, which would support cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Albacore shared a series of screenshots on Twitter showing the initial stages of Microsoft’s new Web3 wallet.
The first screenshot is of an introductory page encouraging people to test the wallet and provide feedback on it. If true, the wallet will be noncustodial, with Microsoft having no access to passwords and recovery keys, and will be embedded in Edge, rather than being an installed browser extension.
The wallet may offer the ability to swap, send, and buy crypto assets, with Coinbase and MoonPay as integrated platforms to help users purchase and deposit crypto. The wallet may also support NFTs, with various marketplaces available to find and organize them.
This potential move from Microsoft is part of its effort to increase the capabilities of Edge, which has been trailing behind competitors like Google Chrome and Apple Safari in terms of popularity. Microsoft recently integrated AI-powered search engines and chat via OpenAI’s ChatGPT as part of its Bing search engine and Edge browser upgrades.
However, the company recently announced plans to shut down its Industrial Metaverse core group, which aimed to bring the metaverse to industrial environments. On the positive side, Microsoft partnered with American Express to develop a suite of solutions that help reduce business travel friction for employees and businesses alike, with the first solution aiming to improve the expense management process through AI and machine learning technologies.
