Consensys Software Inc. plans to separate MetaMask from its institutional infrastructure business by the end of 2026, creating two independently operated companies: a consumer-focused MetaMask business and a separate infrastructure company that will retain the Consensys name.

The company announced the plan on September 9, 2026. The proposed restructuring has not been completed, and Consensys has not published a precise closing date, interim milestones or transaction agreement.

Official announcement:

MetaMask and Consensys to operate separately

Under the plan, the existing Consensys Software Inc. will continue as the same legal entity but will rebrand as MetaMask. It will operate the MetaMask wallet and other consumer-facing products.

The infrastructure business will become a newly formed company operating under the Consensys name. It will include the Protocols Group and institutional blockchain infrastructure, including the Linea network. The announcement also names Linea, Besu and Teku among the technologies associated with the new Consensys business. These technologies support the operation of and connectivity to the Ethereum blockchain.

The proposed structure would place MetaMask’s consumer products and Consensys’ institutional and protocol infrastructure under separate operating companies. That distinction reflects the different markets named in the announcement, while the companies are expected to continue building within the same broader ecosystem.

MetaMask said it will remain an Ethereum-first, pan-ecosystem product and company. That means its primary focus will remain Ethereum while it continues to work across multiple blockchain networks. The company reports more than 100 million downloads in roughly 190 countries. Those figures represent company-reported reach and are not independently audited active-user figures.

Joe Lubin will serve as MetaMask’s chairman and chief executive officer. He will also become executive chairman of the new Consensys. Mike Kriak is designated chief executive officer of the new Consensys, while David Cunningham is designated its president.

“Going forward, the two companies will keep building the same ecosystem, just with the focus each market now demands,” Joe Lubin said. Lubin is the named chairman and CEO of MetaMask and executive chairman of Consensys.

CryptoSlate separately reported the year-end timing and the planned structure of the two entities:

The announcement follows an earlier Consensys development involving plans to make MetaMask a standalone company. It also comes as other crypto companies adjust their wallet businesses. Coinbase, for example, restored the Wallet name while shifting its Base app toward trading.

Completion target remains open

Consensys expects to complete the separation by the end of 2026. “By year-end” is the company’s stated target, not confirmation that the separation will be completed on a specific date.

The announcement does not provide interim milestones, exact closing conditions or a detailed implementation schedule. No corporate filing or transaction agreement has been published to establish a precise completion date, so the timetable remains subject to further information from the company.

Details not disclosed

The announcement does not specify the ownership percentages, financing arrangements or board composition of either company. It also does not describe the operational relationship that will exist between MetaMask and the new Consensys after the separation.

For users, the announcement by itself does not establish any change to service access, integrations or customer terms. A secondary report attributed a user-reassurance statement to MetaMask, but that wording did not appear in the directly fetched release and remains unconfirmed.

The broader crypto market showed no clear reaction specifically tied to the announcement. Ethereum traded near $2,458 during the research period, down a fraction over 24 hours, but there is no evidence linking that movement to the planned separation.

The plan is therefore an announced corporate restructuring rather than a completed split. Consensys and MetaMask are expected to provide additional details as the end-of-2026 target approaches.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always conduct independent research before making decisions.