Moonbeam Chain

Q: What is GLMR used for on Moonbeam?

GLMR is Moonbeam's native token. CoinGecko lists Moonbeam under GLMR, and ethereum.org explains the gas model used by EVM-style networks. Users need GLMR for transaction fees, and it is also tied to staking, governance, and network participation.

Q: Is Moonbeam an Ethereum Layer 2?

No. Moonbeam is not an Ethereum L2; Investopedia explains Polkadot parachains as chains linked through the relay chain, while Moonbeam supports Ethereum-style tools as Polkadot parachain architecture.

Q: Where can I check Moonbeam transactions?

Moonbeam transactions can be checked on Moonscan, the EVM-style explorer for the Moonbeam chain. Moonscan shows blocks, transactions, token transfers, contracts, collators, and fee charts, so it is the most useful starting point when a wallet shows a pending or missing transaction.

Q: Can MetaMask connect to Moonbeam?

Yes. MetaMask Help Center explains custom network RPC setup, and Moonbeam Docs provide the Moonbeam chain ID and network endpoints. Users should use trusted prompts or official settings, then keep GLMR available for gas.

MoonbeamEVM Chain

Category EVM-compatible smart contract parachainNetwork Moonbeam on PolkadotToken GLMRLaunched 2022

Open Moonbeam App â†—

Open Moonbeam â†—

Live preview â€” open the official Moonbeam app from your own wallet.

EVM-compatibleGLMR utility tokenChain ID 1284

What is Moonbeam Chain?

Moonbeam is an EVM-compatible GLMR network in the Polkadot ecosystem, built for smart contracts, dApps, and cross-chain integrations. The Ethereum Virtual Machine overview explains the execution model behind EVM compatibility, while Moonbeam applies that familiar contract environment to a Polkadot-connected chain.

Moonbeam Chain at a glance

CategoryEVM-compatible smart contract parachain

NetworkMoonbeam on Polkadot

TokenGLMR

Launched2022

CustodyNon-custodial Layer 1 parachain accounts

For the token reference, the GLMR market profile tracks Moonbeam as a listed cryptoasset. For the network category, the Polkadot parachains overview describes how parachains connect to the relay ecosystem.

Moonbeam chain, GLMR, and Polkadot connection

Moonbeam is an Ethereum-compatible smart contract platform connected to the Polkadot ecosystem. Its native token is GLMR, used for transaction fees, staking-related activity, governance, and network operations. The reason Moonbeam ranks for both EVM and Polkadot searches is that it gives developers Ethereum-style tooling while operating as a Polkadot parachain. Users can interact with Moonbeam through EVM wallets and explorers, but the network also has Substrate and XCM features that matter for cross-chain assets. For app context, Moonbeam chain activity on DefiLlama groups DeFi protocols by the Moonbeam network rather than by a single application.

Moonbeam chain ID, RPC, and MetaMask setup

The usual wallet intent for Moonbeam is adding Moonbeam Network to MetaMask or another EVM wallet. Moonbeam mainnet uses GLMR as gas and has dedicated RPC and explorer resources in the official documentation. Users should avoid manually copying network settings from search snippets if they can use Moonbeam network endpoint documentation or a trusted wallet connection flow instead. A wrong RPC can make balances appear broken, and a fake chain-add prompt can steer users toward malicious contracts. For transaction review, contract verification, blocks, collators, and token transfers, the standard EVM explorer is the Moonbeam block explorer.

Moonbeam staking rewards and collator delegation

Moonbeam staking searches usually refer to delegating GLMR to collators, not running an Ethereum validator. Rewards are not a guaranteed static APY because they depend on network parameters, selected collator behavior, inflation, delegator competition, and protocol changes. The Moonbeam research profile is a useful outside reference for project-level context, while users should still check the current app interface before delegating. The key practical distinction is that delegators keep an on-chain position exposed to network and collator selection risks, rather than depositing GLMR into a centralized yield account.

How to explore Moonbeam Chain

Open the official appUse the app button and confirm the domain is apps.moonbeam.network before connecting a wallet.
Connect an EVM walletUse MetaMask or another compatible Ethereum wallet and switch to Moonbeam mainnet when prompted.
Explore by categoryBrowse DeFi, NFT, gaming, infrastructure, and tooling apps from the Moonbeam directory.
Verify before signingCheck the app, contract, token, and network details before approving any transaction.

When adding a network manually, MetaMask's custom network RPC guide explains why the RPC URL, chain ID, and explorer fields should be checked before use.

Ready to explore?

Open the official Moonbeam app and verify the domain before you sign.

Open Moonbeam â†—

Moonbeam vs Moonriver

Dimension	Moonbeam	Moonriver
Relay ecosystem	Polkadot	Kusama
Native token	GLMR	MOVR
Primary role	Main production network	Canary-style companion network
Explorer	Moonscan	Moonriver explorer resources
Best for	Apps and liquidity targeting Polkadot production users	Earlier-stage or Kusama-aligned deployments

The distinction is asset- and network-specific: CoinMarketCap's Moonriver MOVR profile describes Moonriver as a Kusama-connected companion network, separate from Moonbeam on Polkadot.

Fees, custody, and security checks

Fees

EVM-style transactions consume gas, and the Ethereum gas explainer is the right baseline for understanding fee mechanics. On-chain actions are irreversible; this is educational content, not financial advice.

Custody

Moonbeam wallet use is non-custodial, so key management remains with the user. Investopedia's blockchain immutability overview explains why recorded blockchain data is difficult to reverse. On-chain actions are irreversible; this is educational content, not financial advice.

Security

Before signing, compare the site, network, and wallet prompt against known references. MetaMask's wallet safety checklist covers basic precautions for seed phrases, approvals, and suspicious prompts. On-chain actions are irreversible; this is educational content, not financial advice.

Moonbeam Chain FAQ

What is GLMR used for on Moonbeam?

GLMR is Moonbeam's native token. The Moonbeam token listing identifies GLMR as the asset, and users need it for transaction fees, staking, governance, and network participation.

Is Moonbeam an Ethereum Layer 2?

No. Moonbeam is not an Ethereum L2; it is an EVM-compatible smart contract parachain in the Polkadot ecosystem. Investopedia's Polkadot parachains explainer describes parachains as chains linked through the relay chain, which is a different architecture from an Ethereum rollup.

Where can I check Moonbeam transactions?

Moonbeam transactions can be checked on the Moonscan transaction explorer, which shows blocks, transactions, token transfers, contracts, collators, and fee charts for the Moonbeam chain.

Can MetaMask connect to Moonbeam?

Yes. Moonbeam is EVM compatible and can be added to MetaMask with the correct network settings. The Moonbeam chain ID and RPC reference documents chain ID 1284 and current endpoint options.

Does Moonbeam support cross-chain assets?

Moonbeam supports cross-chain use cases through Polkadot-oriented interoperability such as XCM and integrations with bridge and messaging protocols. The parachain interoperability reference explains the shared-security and cross-chain messaging model that makes those flows possible.

What is the difference between GLMR and MOVR?

GLMR is the native token of Moonbeam on Polkadot, while MOVR is the native token of Moonriver on Kusama. They are separate assets on related networks, and the MOVR asset profile helps verify the Moonriver side before selecting a wallet network.