Consensys Software Inc., the Ethereum-focused technology company behind MetaMask, plans to separate its consumer business from its institutional blockchain infrastructure operations and establish two independent companies by the end of 2026.

The proposed restructuring would give the businesses separate leadership teams and strategic priorities as their products and target customers continue to diverge. MetaMask would operate as the consumer-focused company, while a newly structured Consensys would concentrate on Ethereum protocols and infrastructure for institutional customers.

MetaMask Expands Beyond Wallet Services

Joe Lubin, Consensys’ founder, is expected to become chairman and CEO of MetaMask while serving as executive chairman of the new Consensys. Mike Kriak will lead the institutional infrastructure business as CEO, and David Cunningham will serve as president.

MetaMask will retain its focus on self-custody but is expected to broaden its role in consumer financial services. Planned areas of expansion include payments, savings, investing and other traditional financial products, alongside its existing wallet and decentralized application capabilities.

Consensys said MetaMask has recorded more than 100 million downloads across approximately 190 countries and has supported transaction volume worth trillions of dollars. The figures underscore the scale of the consumer operation.

Consensys launched MetaMask in 2016 as an Ethereum browser extension. The product has since developed into a broader gateway to blockchain-based financial applications, with newer services covering payments, yield-related products and tokenized real-world assets.

In June, Consensys announced the MetaMask Money Account, which allows eligible users to earn variable annual percentage yields of up to 4% on mUSD stablecoin balances. The company said the returns are generated through decentralized finance lending strategies and are not paid as interest by MetaMask or the stablecoin issuer.

MetaMask also expanded access to tokenized financial assets earlier this year. In February, Consensys said eligible users outside the United States could access 200 tokenized U.S. stocks, exchange-traded funds and commodities through Ondo Global Markets.

That month, the company also introduced a Mastercard-enabled spending card across 49 U.S. states. The product expanded on an offering already available in markets including Europe, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

New Consensys to Concentrate on Ethereum Infrastructure

The institutional business will bring together Consensys’ Ethereum protocol and infrastructure portfolio, including Linea, Besu and Teku. The proposed structure is intended to let those products pursue infrastructure development and institutional adoption without competing with MetaMask’s consumer-oriented priorities.

The new Consensys is expected to target financial institutions and enterprises seeking blockchain infrastructure for tokenization, stablecoins and other onchain financial applications. Its focus will remain on Ethereum protocols and infrastructure, with an emphasis on helping financial institutions deploy blockchain technology for tokenization, stablecoins and other institutional financial services.

Separating the businesses could provide developers and enterprise customers with a clearer point of contact for infrastructure-related services. It could also allow teams working on Linea, Besu and Teku to prioritize reliability, scalability, tooling and enterprise integration.

The restructuring may create clearer performance measures for the two operations. MetaMask’s progress could increasingly be assessed through consumer adoption and the rollout of financial products, while the new Consensys could be evaluated through institutional deployments, infrastructure development and enterprise partnerships.

Separation Targeted for the End of 2026

Consensys has described the reorganization as a response to the increasingly different objectives of its consumer and institutional operations. Instead of maintaining both businesses under one corporate structure, the company plans to give each independent leadership and a more focused growth strategy.

The separation has not yet been completed, and Consensys is targeting the end of 2026 to finalize the transition. Until then, users and developers will monitor whether existing products and services continue without disruption as the organizational changes proceed.

The planned split would allow MetaMask to develop into a broader consumer financial platform while the new Consensys concentrates on institutional Ethereum infrastructure. It also reflects the different product strategies increasingly required by consumer applications and enterprise blockchain infrastructure.

MetaMask’s expansion into payments, yield-related services and tokenized assets brings it closer to mainstream financial services. Consensys’ institutional portfolio, meanwhile, remains focused on the technical infrastructure needed to support blockchain adoption at scale.

The developments ahead of the planned separation are expected to clarify how the two companies will allocate resources, develop products and pursue partnerships.

Primary source: Consensys announcement

Original source: CoinTrust