Opera Mini's stablecoin payments app MiniPay launches as a standalone iOS app, expanding reach to African markets

Opera, the Norway-based internet company best known for its web browser, has launched MiniPay, its stablecoin payments app, as a standalone iOS app, opening access to users across Africa for the first time.

The app was previously embedded in Opera Mini, a mobile web browser with over 400 million users, limiting reach to Android users only. MiniPay is now available for download on the App Store and Google Play in several African markets, including Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, among others.

Opera joins a growing list of foreign players like Coinbase seeking growth in African markets. The continent saw $125 billion in crypto payments in 2024, with stablecoins accounting for 43% of the total, according to research firm Chainalysis. Of the $125 billion, $54 billion was in stablecoins, highlighting the rising popularity of dollar-backed digital assets as tools for savings in volatile currency markets.

“Stablecoins are gaining widespread recognition, with increasing demand from both developed and emerging markets,″ a company spokesperson told TechCabal. “In Africa, there’s a strong need for faster, more affordable, and accessible financial solutions. We’re excited to introduce Opera MiniPay to iOS users, expanding our reach and enabling even more people to experience the benefits of blockchain technology.”

Opera says it wants to make global payments “as easy as texting.” It first launched MiniPay in September 2023, but it wasn’t until October 2024 that it built a standalone app for Android users.

“It made sense to launch the iOS and Android standalone app, making MiniPay accessible across all major mobile platforms,” said the company spokesperson. “We have seen rapid growth in key African markets, so the standalone app offers more flexibility and allows us to scale faster.”

Opera partnered with Celo in 2021 to build the MiniPay app on the Celo blockchain network. Celo is known for its fast settlement times, low-cost transactions—which cost less than a dollar for stablecoin payments—and mobile-first design capabilities. The blockchain network also has a presence in several Latin American (LATAM) markets like Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela, where the MiniPay app is also available.

The app offers M-Pesa and Apple Pay payments in key markets in Africa, like Kenya and South Africa, and LATAM to allow users to spend and withdraw money easily to their bank accounts. MiniPay plans to expand further in North America, LATAM, and Europe in the second and third quarters of 2025.

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Globally, MiniPay has gained traction, with users creating over 7 million wallets. The app supports three stablecoins—cUSD (Celo US dollar), USDT, and USDC—and offers a $0.10 welcome bonus alongside daily cash rewards when users log in.

The company says the app is compliant with local regulations in the 35 markets where it operates. It adds that MiniPay operates as a non-custodial stablecoin wallet app, meaning it allows users to control their funds. The app does not handle fiat transactions directly; instead, it relies on partners and liquidity providers like Yellow Card, Fonbnk, Partna, TransFi, Transak, and Onramper for competitive exchange rates. According to Opera, MiniPay supports over 35 local currencies, making it easy for users to exchange their stablecoins for fiat money (off-ramping).

“As a self-custody solution, it is an unregulated software product and does not manage fiat transactions directly,” the company said. “MiniPay integrates with a range of regulated partners who serve as the on-ramps and off-ramps in their respective markets. MiniPay itself only facilitates transactions in dollar-denominated stablecoins (such as USDT, USDC, cUSD).’

“For example, in markets like Nigeria, where our on-ramp partners are required to be registered with the SEC, they are responsible for handling KYC/AML obligations in accordance with local regulations. This ensures that MiniPay operates in compliance with the regulatory landscape of each market it enters.”

The regulatory aspect of MiniPay’s global march may draw attention to its ambition. In markets like Nigeria, where regulators are tightening oversight, Opera says its reliance on regulated third parties keeps it compliant. Yet, the app has no noticeable systems in place for Know Your Customer (KYC) verification checks, which could put it at risk of regulatory scrutiny.

“In all markets where KYC is required for fiat-to-crypto transactions, our on-ramp partners enforce their own KYC and compliance processes directly. MiniPay does not perform KYC itself,” the company said.

MiniPay is backed by a $40 million fund from Verda Ventures. The fund is a consortium led by the Opera Group and supported by Tether, JUMP, and