MiniPay, the stablecoin wallet and payments app backed by Opera, has reached 15 million activated wallets across seven African markets, more than doubling its user base from the previous year. The increase represents a 123 % year‑on‑year growth, following the milestone of 13 million wallets recorded at the end of 2025, according to Opera’s Q1 2026 report.
The service was first introduced in Nigeria in September 2023 as a feature of the Opera Mini browser. It was later spun out into a standalone application in 2024 and has since expanded to Kenya and other key African economies before launching globally in 2025. Opera cites MiniPay as one of the most widely adopted stablecoin payment solutions targeting emerging markets, with the majority of its users located in Africa.
MiniPay’s rapid adoption underscores the continent’s growing role as a testing ground for crypto‑based payment and dollar‑savings products. The app competes with services such as Bitget Wallet and UglyCash, which aim to attract users in countries where local currencies are volatile and traditional banking infrastructure is costly. By offering a dollar‑denominated digital wallet, these platforms provide a means for everyday transactions and savings that are less exposed to local inflation and exchange‑rate fluctuations.
Murray Spark, Senior Director of Business Development at Opera, confirmed the expansion trajectory in an email to TechCabal: “MiniPay launched first in Nigeria in 2023 and expanded first across Kenya and other key African markets before going global in 2025.” The statement highlights the strategic focus on African markets as a foundation for broader international growth.
The growth of MiniPay aligns with broader trends in the African fintech landscape, where mobile‑first solutions are increasingly replacing conventional banking services. According to the World Bank, over 60 % of Sub‑Saharan Africa’s adult population remains unbanked, creating a sizable market for digital wallets that can operate with limited infrastructure. Stablecoins, which are pegged to fiat currencies such as the US dollar, provide price stability that appeals to users seeking to protect the value of their savings.
Opera’s expansion of MiniPay into additional African countries is expected to continue throughout 2026, with the company planning to integrate more local payment rails and partner with regional financial institutions. By strengthening the app’s ecosystem, Opera aims to increase transaction volume and deepen user engagement across the continent.
The milestones achieved by MiniPay illustrate how stablecoin‑based platforms are gaining traction in regions where traditional financial services are limited. As adoption rises, the app could serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives seeking to leverage cryptocurrency technology to address the financial inclusion challenges faced by emerging economies.
