It’s not just crypto investors that are trying to cash in on cryptocurrency’s rising popularity. Even tech firms, such as Opera Software, want a piece of the action with the company recently introducing a new crypto wallet feature right in its desktop browser.
First Major Desktop Browser With a Crypto Wallet
Opera just made headlines in the tech and crypto industries when it announced that it has tweaked its desktop browser to include a brand new crypto wallet. According to TNW, the move is a key milestone because it makes it the first major desktop browser with a built-in crypto wallet.
The built-in wallet feature was first introduced in the browser’s Android version in June this year. Apparently, the feature was well received, and now the company wants its loyal desktop users to join in on the experience. Opera EVP of Browsers, Krystian Kolondra, said in a statement:
“After making crypto payments smooth and easy on mobile, we wanted the find the perfect solution for PCs.We realized the best way is to utilize our new mobile crypto wallet technology and to give our PC users access to it.”
Blockchain and Cryptos to Go Mainstream
Opera believes that cryptocurrency and the blockchain technology behind it could impact society in a meaningful way. It is doing its part in pushing for this mainstream integration sooner via introducing the built-in crypto wallet feature, making its browser future proof. Kolondra added:
“Our next aim is to make crypto-integration mainstream. We believe blockchain tewachnology has the power to transform the web of tomorrow and expet [sic] it to make a big difference in the years to come.”
Now that its browser comes ready for crypto trading, Opera takes security very seriously. In its mobile version, for instance, it does away with passphrases as they can be easily stolen or forgotten. Instead, the browser opted for the biometric approach, which may not yet be perfect but is still deemed more secure.
Niche Browser
Opera’s addition of the built-in crypto wallet feature is part of the company’s plans to increase the browser’s functionally and, hopefully, convince more netizens to give it a try. Currently, Opera just can’t compete with heavyweights Google Chrome and Firefox and are currently serving a small niche with 2-percent market share, according to a Business Insider report.
It has around 322 million monthly active users, with approximately one-third of these users located in Africa. Despite the browser’s relatively small market share, the company’s executives are happy as the firm is profitable and growing.
Frode Jacobsen, Opera’s chief financial, shared in an interview:
“Our business model is very scalable. What we are happy with, in terms of our financials, is we’ve managed to combine growth with profitability.”
