The mobile version of the Opera Browser on the Android platform has just been updated with new crypto features ready to take on the Web 3.0 internet.
Launched during yesterday’s Hard Fork Decentralized event in London, the Opera Browser ships with inbuilt support for Ethereum cryptocurrency and ERC-20 tokens and support for interactions with decentralized applications (dApps).
Announcing the release of the newly updated browser, Charles Hamel, the product manager of Opera Crypto said that,
“Until now using cryptocurrencies online and accessing Web 3 required special apps or extensions, making it difficult for people to even try it out. Our new browser removes that friction.”
Opera is among the big-name internet companies that are betting on the blockchain technology. In July this year, the company released the Opera Android mobile with an integration of the cryptocurrency wallet in private beta mode.
In the beta release, the browser’s integrated wallet could store Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens but the interface was more geared towards technical users. It was not friendly for use by general cryptocurrency users for everyday commerce purposes.
The Opera Crypto team decided to incorporate the feedback from beta users including dApp developers and non-technical users which led to the current version which according to Hamel is more adept to use by a wider audience.
Speaking at the launch event as well was Krystian Kolondra the EVP Browsers at Opera and she invited feedback from the community so as to keep improving the browser. She said,
“I would like to invite all tech enthusiasts who may have heard of blockchain but haven’t yet experienced it to simply give our new browser and Web 3.0 a try.”
The company opted to support Ethereum based on its wide and active developer network who are building dApps. According to the company, Ethereum has the “largest community of developers” behind it.
The Opera browser with cryptocurrency integration is now available on Google Play with other platforms including the desktop versions running on Windows and Linux yet to be launched.
The Opera Crypto team, however, said that they will not be focusing on releasing an Apple iOS app any time soon owing to the “challenging” and “strict environment” for app providers to operate on the iOS platform.
