Popular web browser Opera is extending its wallet and DApp support to eight new blockchain networks in a move aimed at introducing Web3 to its users worldwide — all 380 million of them.
Opera’s Crypto Browser Adds Support For Bitcoin, Solana, Polygon, And Five Other Blockchains
In January this year, Opera unveiled the beta version of its Crypto Browser Project for Windows, Mac, and Android dedicated to crypto using Web3 — the so-called next generation of the internet. The standalone browser makes it easier to browse decentralized apps (dApps) and metaverse platforms and comes with a non-custodial cryptocurrency wallet. As part of this project, Opera has integrated popular blockchains, including bitcoin, Solana, and Polygon as well as StarkEx, Ronin, IXO, Nervos DAO, and Celo.
Per the announcement today, Opera users can now access Polygon dApps and also enjoy the “benefits of Layer 2 DeFi via StarkWare-powered DiversiFi.” The browser company cited the need for environmentally-conscious solutions with low transaction costs as one of the key reasons for picking Polygon over Ethereum.
EVP Mobile at Opera, Jorgen Arnesen, noted that the Oslo-based company is looking to attract mainstream audiences who are a bit wary of dipping their toes into web3 as “with the integration of Solana, Polygon, and others in our mobile browser, they can now access these technologies from the safety and familiarity of the browser that provides them with a dedicated Web3 experience.”
Opera’s Multi-Chain Strategy Ahead Of The Pack
Opera is notably one of the oldest web browsers and it has been creating crypto products since 2018. Opera is actually the first major browser to integrate a crypto wallet for making secure crypto payments directly from a web browser.
In the latest announcement, Opera indicates that integrating different decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystems, including layer two blockchains is a key strategy for its goal to ensure chain agnosticism and onboard millions of users to Web3.
“Ultimately, Web3 is on its way to becoming a mainstream web technology and users won’t need to know they’re interacting with it. They need to get a superior user experience and a true benefit,” Arnesen said.
It’s worth noting that Opera is not the only crypto-oriented browser banking on the exponential growth of Web3 users. Rival browser Brave added support for the Solana network late last year in a bid to bolster its dApps functionality. Brave, however, is yet to roll out multi-chain support like Opera.
