MiniPay – the award-winning non-custodial stablecoin wallet built on Celo's mobile-first Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain network

MiniPay – the award-winning non-custodial stablecoin wallet built on Celo's mobile-first Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain network – is now available as a standalone application

MiniPay, the award-winning non-custodial stablecoin wallet built on Celo’s mobile-first Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain network, is now available as a standalone application on both iOS and Android.

Originally launched as an integration in Opera Mini, the most downloaded browser in Africa, MiniPay has already onboarded over 7 million unique wallets. Its release as a standalone app on Android in October has helped to generate a further one million downloads, helping to drive the next wave of stablecoin adoption globally. MiniPay’s expansion to iOS completes the ecosystem, democratizing the access and use of stablecoins like USDT, USDC, cUSD, which can now become an everyday, mainstream currency used for super-fast global transfers, basic payments at local businesses, or even a way of saving money in markets with volatile currencies – all thanks to MiniPay’s Web2-style experience for all that is so simple it “doesn’t feel like crypto.”

“MiniPay becoming a standalone app is a crucial step in helping people around the world access the global dollar system,” said Jørgen Arnsen, EVP Mobile at Opera. “Through Celo’s advanced Ethereum L2 network, users can send, receive, spend, and save money anywhere in the world, and then put their funds to use in so many different ways within our growing ecosystem of Mini Apps. And no one needs to know the complexities of blockchain or crypto – it’s easy to sign up, simple to use, and provides nearly instant transactions at sub-cent fees.”

Stablecoin utility, without the crypto complexity

As stablecoins move from the margins into the financial mainstream – fueling everything from cross-border remittances to savings and digital commerce – MiniPay is setting a new benchmark for usability and accessibility. MiniPay features:

Easy onboarding & phone number-based UX: Users can sign up, backup, and restore their wallets with a Google or iCloud account and a phone number. No seed phrases, no crypto jargon, no wallet addresses.

Stablecoins for financial stability: MiniPay supports stablecoins such as Tether’s USDT, which allows users to protect their assets from local currency volatility. Users can furthermore swap for free between supported stablecoins thanks to the Pockets feature, developed in partnership with Mento Labs.

Near-zero fees & instant cross-border transactions: Celo’s network makes it possible to send stablecoins globally for less than $0.01 – a fraction of the 6–7% charged by traditional money transfer services. This is critical for users in regions like Africa and Latin America, where remittance flows play a vital role in supporting families and local economies.

Localised cash-in and cash-out: A strong and growing network of partners like Onramper, Transak, Binance, Unlimit, Yellow Card, Partna, Banxa, Fonbnk, Cashramp, and more ensures that MiniPay users can easily move between local currencies and stablecoins in as little as 60 seconds, offering competitive rates and familiar payment options.

Seamless local payments: Pay bills (in selected countries), buy data and airtime, shop at local merchants, stream music or donate to charity — directly from stablecoins with MiniPay’s selection of integrated Mini Apps.

Facilitating global financial inclusion

Since its initial launch in September of 2023, MiniPay has been offering sub-cent transaction fees and instant processing to a rapidly growing user base across the globe. As a standalone app, MiniPay is ready to offer even greater accessibility, allowing users worldwide to send, save, or receive their money more efficiently. Whether it’s cross-border payments, local bill settlements, or switching between stablecoins and local currencies, MiniPay’s feature-rich platform makes global transactions simple and affordable. Built for remote workers, mobile-first users, and underbanked communities, MiniPay lets users send, receive, and spend stablecoins in seconds, without the complexity of traditional crypto wallets – making it easy to use for all.

“The MiniPay wallet and its ecosystem of Mini apps allow millions of users to transact with stablecoins for everyday activities like saving, spending, streaming music, or paying for groceries on terms they understand, and in local currencies they trust. As a standalone app, MiniPay and the Mini app ecosystem serve as the gateway to the new onchain economy, aligned with Celo's mission to create prosperity for all,” said Rene Reinsberg, Celo Co-Founder and Celo Foundation President.

The stablecoin moment is now – and MiniPay is leading it

Traditional remittance services remain costly, with average fees of 6.4%, so users are looking for alternative ways of transferring the funds. Thanks to the stability in the value and ease of use, stablecoins are rapidly becoming the most practical entry point into crypto: In Sub-Saharan Africa, stablecoins now account for 43% of all crypto transactions. According to a survey conducted by Opera,