Opera announces the launch of MiniPay, a dollar stablecoin wallet built on Celo. This development is set to transform the way millions of mobile users across Africa access Web3.
Opera Mini is a web browser developed by the Norwegian company Opera. It’s designed primarily for mobile devices and offers a streamlined browsing experience, data compression to reduce the amount of data used, and faster page loading times.
Opera Mini is known for its ability to perform well even on slower network connections, making it popular in regions with limited internet access.
Celo is a blockchain platform emphasizing financial inclusion, with its digital currencies and a focus on mobile accessibility. It aims to provide secure, stable financial services, especially to underserved populations, using a decentralized identity, and a community-driven approach.
Features of MiniPay
The new wallet, known as MiniPay with a compact size of 2MB ensures rapid transactions with minimal fees, making it an economical and accessible choice.
It is also designed to seamlessly integrate with Opera Mini’s Android browser, a platform with over 100 million users. MiniPay has access to Celo’s unique mobile capabilities, including FiatConnect and SocialConnect.
Another unique feature of the wallet is the easy onboarding process that allows users to sign in with their Google credentials for a hassle-free experience. As a self-custodial wallet, MiniPay ensures that users have complete control over their funds, with automatic Google backup. It also supports local payment methods such as Airtime, MPesa, bank transfers, or cards, and is accessible on Google Play store.
Expansion in Africa
Although it’s launching in Nigeria, there are plans on the way for expansion to Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, catering to users across the continent.
In addition to accessibility, MiniPay addresses several market concerns, including high fees, unreliable service uptimes, lack of transparency in transaction progress, and limited mobile data access to complete transactions.
Opera’s Executive Vice President, Jorgen Arnesen, views this partnership as a pivotal moment in digital finance. Celo Co-Founder and Celo Foundation President, Regen René, calls it the “killer user case” the industry has been waiting for.
