Web platform Opera has revealed plans to launch a non-custodial stablecoin wallet integrated into its mobile web browser that will be available to its user base in Africa.
On September 13, the network service provider launched a MiniPay wallet integration built on the Celo blockchain, allowing African users to send or receive stablecoins using their existing mobile phone numbers.
Exciting news comes live @dappcon_berlinMain stage! CC: @RegenRene @jorgenarnesen @afishinparis Charles Hamel and Rosette Bellesi.
finally come!We work with global network innovators @opera roll out @MiniPay–– The first stablecoin wallet built on Celo is about to go online… pic.twitter.com/sEUp0yCKQe
— Celo (@CeloOrg) September 13, 2023
Opera began operating in Africa 17 years ago and now has more than 100 million users on the continent. The rollout of MiniPay will begin in the coming months, starting with Nigeria.
Jørgen Arnesen, Executive Vice President of Opera Mobile, commented:
“Users in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa have expressed lingering concerns about high fees, unreliable service uptime, lack of transparency on transaction progress and lack of access to mobile data.”
The new MiniPay wallet will run for less than cents and offer built-in and backup wallets via the user’s Google credentials.
It also integrates with local payment methods including Airtime and MPesa as well as traditional bank transfers, allowing users to add and withdraw stablecoins from the wallet as local currency.
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Celo also has a strong user base in Africa and said the integration “opens the door” for MiniPay to build more Ethereum-compatible dApps.
Cointelegraph contacted both companies for further comment on the matter.
In April this year, Opera announced the integration of new generative artificial intelligence (AI) into its then-latest browser update. An in-browser AI feature called AI Tips provides users with “contextual hints” of web pages or highlighted text.
In December, it launched a suite of security tools designed to protect users from “malicious Web3 attackers.”
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