160M CELO allocation proposal to grow Opera from distribution partner into key network stakeholder

Opera, a prominent global browser and AI company, is set to receive an allocation of 160 million CELO tokens, pending approval from the Celo community governance. This grant aims to enhance Opera’s long-term partnership with Celo, a leading Layer 2 blockchain known for its high daily active user base exceeding 700,000.

The integration of Celo’s fast and low-cost payment infrastructure has been pivotal for Opera’s MiniPay, which offers unique features like fee abstraction and phone number mapping. Since its launch, MiniPay has achieved 14 million account registrations and facilitated over 420 million transactions on the Celo blockchain.

Over 50 million Opera users have recently earned rewards that can be redeemed as USD₮ through MiniPay, contributing to the wallet’s rapid growth on the Celo platform.

This announcement, made on March 19, 2026, reflects the ongoing collaboration between Opera and Celo Core Co., the stewards of the Celo network. The partnership is built on a framework that not only supports the distribution of Celo stablecoins but also positions Opera as a key stakeholder in the Celo ecosystem.

The proposal is currently under review in the Celo community forum, in line with the network’s decentralized governance model. The updated terms signify the evolution of the partnership, highlighting Opera’s commitment to the Celo ecosystem and its governance token, CELO.

Since the partnership began in June 2021, both Opera and Celo have worked to promote the use of stablecoin payments, particularly following the introduction of MiniPay in September 2023. In December 2025, they extended their collaborative efforts with the goal of achieving financial inclusion for one billion people by 2030.

MiniPay has expanded its reach to over 66 countries, becoming a vital tool for everyday stablecoin transactions. This growth underscores the alignment between MiniPay’s target audience and Celo’s specialized payment infrastructure, which was designed for mobile-first, real-world financial applications.

Notable features that enhance consumer adoption include the ability to cover transaction fees using ERC-20 tokens, as well as a phone number-to-wallet mapping system that simplifies the user experience. This three-year agreement marks a significant transition for Opera, transitioning from a distribution partner to a stakeholder in the Celo network, thus aligning their success with that of the Celo ecosystem.

Rene Reinsberg, co-founder of Celo, emphasized the evolution of their partnership, stating their shared mission to provide accessible stablecoin solutions globally. Jørgen Arnesen, EVP Mobile at Opera, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of Celo’s infrastructure in supporting their mobile financial technology.

To further promote their collaboration, Opera and Celo will launch a roadshow aimed at increasing grassroots adoption in Latin America and Southeast Asia, starting in Vietnam and the Philippines next month.

For more information about Celo and Opera, visit their respective websites at celo.org and opera.com. Additionally, MiniPay is available for download on both Google Play and the iOS App Store.