Opera is embracing the cryptocurrency movement by testing an Ethereum wallet in its Android mobile browser. It makes Opera the first major browser to add a built-in crypto wallet. You can import an existing wallet or create a new one, and it allows you to send and receive money directly in the browser, as well as make online purchases where merchants support crypto transactions.
Ethereum is the second largest cryptocurrency around, with a bit less than half the market cap of bitcoin, but far outpacing other coins. Opera chose the Ethereum platform in part because of how developers have embraced it to create apps with games, collectibles, exchanges and gambling; the browser supports some of these apps and the wallet can store tokens and collectibles such as unique digital cats from the game CryptoKitties. Opera says that the browser will support other currencies in the future.
Opera, which recently added a tool to stop sites from mining coins through your browser, is hoping to expand adoption of cryptocurrency by making it more user friendly yet secure. The browser protects the wallet with Android’s system lock instead of complex passwords, and all of the keys that control the wallet remain on the device and aren’t uploaded anywhere. Opera is testing the wallet in a private beta, and you can sign up if you’re interested.
