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, limiting reach to Android users only. Opera joins a growing list of foreign players like Coinbase seeking growth in African markets as stablecoins gain ground globally.

Opera hopes to compete more aggressively in Africa’s fast-growing digital currency market, where stablecoins accounted for 43% of crypto transactions in 2024. With $125 billion in crypto payments flowing through the continent and stablecoins making up $54 billion of that, the company sees a growing appetite for dollar-backed digital assets as tools for everyday payments and savings in volatile currency markets.

“Stablecoins are gaining widespread recognition, with increasing demand from both developed and emerging markets alike,” a company spokesperson told TechCabal. “In Africa, there’s a strong need for faster, more affordable, and accessible financial solutions.”

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. Now, Africans can access the app on iOS and Android smartphones.