Opera Releases Web 3.0 Browser Dedicated to Crypto, a Challenger to Brave?

Opera, the Norwegian-based company behind the popular so-named internet browser, has launched a beta version of its Crypto Browser Project. Featuring built-in Web3 integrations and designed to facilitate users’ experience of browsing decentralised apps (DApps), games and metaverse platforms, the beta browser also offers a built-in non-custodial wallet, now available to Windows, Android, and Mac users.

Opera Targets the ‘Crypto-Native’ and ‘Crypto-Curious’

According to a January 18 press release, the beta browser targets both “the crypto-native and the crypto-curious”, with Opera’s own crypto wallet at the core of its users’ experience. As it stands, the Opera browser features a no-login VPN (virtual private network) and native ad tracker blocker to help secure it. The current wallet is also exclusively compatible with Ethereum, but the company plans to roll out Polygon and Solana compatibility with a “big layer 2 announcement” coming in February.

The main feature of the new browser is that users can switch between apps without having to sign into their wallets for every new tab, which will work for any app that has an Opera wallet integration.

Jorgen Arnesen, vice-president of Web3 at Opera, explained the ultimate goal of the project is to help Web3 and crypto become more mainstream:

Opera’s Crypto Browser Project promises a simpler, faster, more private Web3 experience for users. It simplifies Web3 user experience that is often bewildering for mainstream users. Opera believes Web3 has to be easy to use for the decentralized web to reach its full potential.

Jorgen Arnesen, vice-president of Web3, Opera

Opera Picks a Battle with Brave

Opera, with a host of new features, hopes to expose its 350 million users to the magical world of crypto but is not the only one of its kind looking to take advantage of the interest in Web3. Privacy browser Brave recently launched a new Brave wallet and is including a Brave Swap Rewards program that will allow users to recoup 20 percent of their swap fees as an added incentive to the initiative.

Brave, in a further effort to expand its crypto reach, launched its new self-custody crypto wallet built into its browser application last November. The wallet will enable Brave users to store and buy cryptos, store NFTs, and make use of DeFi.