Add network with existing chain ID via API

Developer Discussion
1

I would like to use API method AddEthereumChainParameter but MetaMask will reject request because I want to add a network whose chain ID is Ethereum Mainnet. I want to add a such network because it would have a FlashBot RPC for MEV protection. Maybe there is some workaround what can be done programmatically?

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Hello @PPrieditis ! Welcome to MetaMask community !
Please show the piece of code in which you call this method.

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It is method from MetaMask docs. I didn’t yet actually tried it in code but docs say that request will be rejected because of chain id:

https://docs.metamask.io/guide/rpc-api.html#wallet-addethereumchain

interface AddEthereumChainParameter {
  chainId: string; // A 0x-prefixed hexadecimal string
  chainName: string;
  nativeCurrency: {
    name: string;
    symbol: string; // 2-6 characters long
    decimals: 18;
  };
  rpcUrls: string[];
  blockExplorerUrls?: string[];
  iconUrls?: string[]; // Currently ignored.
}

MetaMask will automatically reject the request under the following circumstances:

  • If the RPC endpoint doesn’t respond to RPC calls. NOTE: Calls are made from the extension’s background page, not the foreground page. If you use an origin allowlist, they will be blocked.
  • If the RPC endpoint returns a different chain ID when eth_chainId is called.
  • If the chain ID corresponds to any default MetaMask chains.
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4

As stated in the documentation, you will not be able to do this on the Ethereum Mainnet.
But you can use Flashbots RPC on your own networks or test Ethereum networks.

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5

Yes, MetaMask docs and ethereum.org EIP-3085 doesn’t want to allow to add a second network with the same chain id but that doesn’t make any sense if user wants to use MEV protected RPC like Flashbots.

The only workaround I see is to add a network with the wrong RPC, chain id and ask a user to change it to the correct ones manually. That is a terrible UX…

6

do you think it will work correctly?

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7

It is possible to have multiple networks with the same chain id. The only limitation is that it isn’t possible to create a network with an existing chain id via API. It will work corectlly but there is a huge difference in user experience if a network is added automatically to the MetaMask or user has to go in settings and manually change parameters.

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