MiniPay, the stablecoin wallet and digital payments platform backed by Opera, has crossed 15 million activated wallets across seven African markets, reflecting the rapid growth of digital currency adoption on the continent. According to Opera’s first quarter 2026 report, the figure represents a 123 per cent increase compared to the previous year, extending the platform’s expansion after it recorded over 13 million activated wallets by the end of 2025.
MiniPay was first launched in Nigeria in September 2023 as part of the Opera Mini browser before evolving into a standalone application in 2025. The company said the majority of its users are based in Africa, where demand for alternative digital payment solutions and dollar denominated savings products has continued to rise. Industry observers say the development further positions Africa as one of the world’s fastest growing markets for cryptocurrency payments and stablecoin based financial services.
Technology analysts note that many Africans, especially in countries experiencing currency volatility and high banking transaction costs, are increasingly turning to digital dollar products for savings, online payments, and cross border transactions. Platforms such as Bitget Wallet and UglyCash are also competing within the growing digital finance ecosystem by offering blockchain powered payment solutions targeted at emerging markets. Experts believe the trend could significantly reshape financial inclusion and digital commerce across Nigeria and other African countries.
Senior Director of Business Development at Opera, Murray Spark, said MiniPay intentionally began operations in Nigeria before expanding into Kenya and other African markets ahead of its global rollout in 2025. Analysts say Nigeria’s large youthful population, expanding fintech ecosystem, and increasing appetite for digital financial services have made the country a strategic launchpad for emerging payment technologies and crypto related innovations.