The momentum of Opera MiniPay remains strong following its successful launch in Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana. MiniPay empowers users to effortlessly save, send, and receive money instantly on their mobile phones, all with minimal transaction fees.
MiniPay : A revolutionary e-wallet
Opera, in collaboration with Celo and Mento Labs, proudly announces a significant milestone: surpassing one million users of the MiniPay wallet in the Nigerian, Kenyan, and Ghanaian markets. This achievement for the global web innovator was unveiled at the Africa Money and DeFi Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, on February 14 and 15.
Launched in 2006, Opera Mini has set itself apart with distinctive features such as data compression, offline file sharing, and a built-in ad blocker. MiniPay, a stable self-deposit dollar wallet, is seamlessly integrated into the Opera Mini browser for Android users and is built on the Celo blockchain.
MiniPay’s mission and solutions
MiniPay is driven by a mission to leverage the potential of decentralized finance, offering accessible financial solutions and introducing Web3 technology to millions of users across Africa. Through its wallet seamlessly integrated into the Opera Mini browser, MiniPay facilitates fast, simple, and cost-effective payments.
Presently operating in Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana, MiniPay operates on the Celo network, offering transactions at sub-penny fees. The platform has ambitious plans to expand its reach to South Africa and beyond, aiming to make financial services more accessible to a broader audience.
Opera MiniPay partners with Celo and Mento Labs
A united vision of fostering financial inclusion and stability in Africa lies at the heart of the strategic alliance between MiniPay, Celo, and Mento Labs. Mento’s stable, decentralized cUSD Celo dollar coins, seamlessly integrated into the MiniPay ecosystem, offer a plethora of advantages, including mitigating currency volatility and serving as a dependable store of value.
This partnership is especially significant in regions grappling with hyperinflation and economic uncertainty, where stable coins provide a decentralized and accessible alternative to traditional financial services.
Charles Hamel, Product Manager at MiniPay, emphasized, « The MiniPay wallet is designed to be intuitive so that users of all experience levels can enjoy the benefits that decentralized finance can bring. Through a familiar Web2 experience, MiniPay enables individuals across Africa to more easily and cost-effectively purchase, send, and receive stable Mento cUSD coins simply by using mobile phone numbers. »
Jason Rodrigues, Head of Founding Programs at the Celo Foundation, expressed the community’s enthusiasm, stating, « The Celo community is excited to support the growth of our shared mission to create the conditions for prosperity for all through Opera MiniPay. This partnership enables real-world users to access a variety of inclusive financial tools seamlessly, quickly, and reliably. »
Markus Franke, CEO of Mento Labs, echoed the sentiment, saying, « Mento Labs is excited to support the launch of MiniPay, which aims to bring affordable and accessible financial services to Opera’s user base in Africa. With a focus on speed, reliability, and financial inclusion, MiniPay offers users a secure and transparent way to easily store and transfer funds using stable coins. »
Mento Labs and decentralized finance
Mento Labs stands at the forefront of decentralized finance innovation, spearheading Mento, an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) platform dedicated to launching and managing stable assets.
Presently, Mento facilitates the operation of four decentralized stable assets:
- cUSD (Celo Dollar)
- cEUR (Celo Euro)
- cREAL (Celo Real, Brazilian real)
- eXOF (CFA Franc from the Central Bank of West African States)
These assets not only offer stability in volatile markets but also unlock numerous practical applications for digital currencies.
As a trailblazer in the industry, Mento Labs specializes in crafting tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of its partners, providing a comprehensive suite of tools for the seamless launch and management of digital assets on a global scale.
By harnessing the potential of blockchain technology, Mento is extending the reach of financial services and paving the path for a more inclusive and decentralized financial ecosystem. As Mento continues to evolve and innovate, it holds the promise of empowering individuals and businesses alike, ushering in new possibilities for the utilization of digital assets in everyday financial transactions and operations.
