TL;DR
- Governance Shift: Opera is seeking approval for a 160 million CELO allocation that would replace its cash-based deal and make the company a major Celo stakeholder, with voting power capped at 10% of staked tokens.
- MiniPay Momentum: MiniPay’s rapid growth to 14 million registrations and 420 million transactions across 66+ countries is a key driver behind the restructured partnership.
- Ecosystem Expansion: Over 50 million Opera users will be able to redeem rewards as USDT in MiniPay, while both companies plan regional roadshows to boost adoption in Latin America and Southeast Asia.
Opera’s long-running partnership with Celo is entering a pivotal new phase as the browser company seeks approval for a 160 million CELO allocation that would replace its existing cash-based arrangement. The proposal, now before Celo’s governance forum, would shift the company from a distribution partner to a major network stakeholder, aligning incentives around MiniPay, the self-custodial wallet that has become the most-used app on the Celo network. With CELO trading at $0.07 and roughly 600 million tokens in circulation, the allocation represents about 27% of the circulating supply and underscores Opera’s commitment to the ecosystem.
A Restructured Deal Anchored in Long-Term Alignment
Under the proposed framework, Opera would receive a one-time transfer of 160 million CELO from the network’s unreleased treasury into an Opera-controlled Safe. While the allocation equals 16% of CELO’s maximum supply, voting power would be capped at 10% of total staked tokens to preserve governance balance. Both companies say the shift reflects the maturity of their collaboration and Opera’s belief in CELO’s long-term value. The agreement spans three years and is designed to deepen Opera’s integration of Celo stablecoins across its products.
MiniPay’s Growth as a Catalyst for the Proposal
MiniPay has become central to the partnership’s momentum. Since launching in 2023, the wallet has surpassed 14 million registrations and facilitated more than 420 million transactions across over 66 countries. Its design focuses on low-cost, mobile-first payments, letting users send stablecoins with phone numbers and pay using local methods. Opera says MiniPay’s traction gives it a strong incentive to support Celo’s broader ecosystem growth.
Expanding Global Reach and User Utility
More than 50 million Opera browser users who earned rewards in recent months will soon be able to redeem them as USDT inside MiniPay, adding another layer of utility. Celo’s infrastructure, including fee abstraction and mobile-optimized architecture, has helped position the network as a leading environment for stablecoin activity. If approved, the proposal would formalize Opera’s evolution into a long-term Celo stakeholder. The companies also plan to expand their presence in Latin America and Southeast Asia through a regional roadshow aimed at driving grassroots adoption and growing the Mini App ecosystem.
