Opera, the popular web browser, is set to revolutionize the digital payment landscape in Africa with its latest release, the MiniPay stablecoin wallet. Operating on the Celo blockchain, this non-custodial wallet is tailored to meet the needs of Opera’s massive user base in Africa.
Introducing MiniPay: A Non-Custodial Wallet for Africa
On September 13th, Opera, a leading web services provider with a longstanding presence in Africa, unveiled its ambitious plan to introduce MiniPay. This innovative wallet integration is poised to empower users across the continent to engage in peer-to-peer (P2P) stablecoin transactions effortlessly.
Notably, Opera’s journey in Africa spans an impressive 17 years, during which it has garnered over 100 million loyal users. With such a substantial user base, the launch of MiniPay is highly anticipated and expected to make a significant impact. The initial rollout of this service will commence in Nigeria, also marking the beginning of a new era in digital payments.
Low Fees and User-Friendly Features
Jørgen Arnesen, the Executive Vice President for Mobile at Opera, emphasized the user-centric approach behind MiniPay’s development. He further addressed the concerns of users in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. Also, he cited issues such as high fees, service reliability, transaction transparency, and access to mobile data.
In response, MiniPay is designed to offer sub-cent fees, ensuring cost-effective transactions. Users can effortlessly link their wallets to their Google credentials for added convenience. Furthermore, the integration of local payment methods, including Airtime and MPesa, as well as traditional bank transfers, enables users to seamlessly convert stablecoins to their local currency and vice versa.
Furthermore, Arnesen highlighted Opera’s dedication to making the internet more accessible in Africa. The Opera Mini browser, known for its data-saving technology, empowers users to access online information without straining their monthly budgets.
Empowering Developers with Celo Integration
Celo, the blockchain powering MiniPay, has a substantial user base in Africa. This integration paves the way for the development of Ethereum-compatible decentralized applications (dApps) tailored for MiniPay users, expanding the ecosystem.
To ensure user-friendliness, MiniPay will initially support the Celo Dollar (cUSD), a stable asset pegged to the value of the USD on Celo. This approach further simplifies the user experience by avoiding the complexity of managing multiple currencies.
Opera’s Ongoing Innovations
Importantly, Opera’s commitment to innovation doesn’t stop at MiniPay. Earlier this year, the company introduced an AI-powered feature called AI Prompt, providing users with contextual prompts while browsing. Additionally, Opera launched a suite of security tools in December to protect users against malicious actors in the evolving Web3 landscape.
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