Opera released a beta version of its Web3 browser with a built-in crypto wallet on Friday for iOS devices, iPhone and iPad. Opera’s Crypto Browser has been available for Mac and Windows desktop users, as well as Android mobile users since January. The mobile release is the latest step in its Crypto Browser Project, a Web3-focused initiative for facilitating navigation across decentralized applications (DApp), games and metaverse platforms.
According to the company, the main features includes the Opera Wallet with support for the Ethereum, Polygon, and Celo ecosystems to buy, sell and transfer tokens. Users can also restore any Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible Wallet with the native Opera Wallet and integrate their existing assets and balances.
On the browser’s homepage users can see the latest top NFT sales and a news aggregator called “Crypto Corner,” with live updates about crypto asset prices and gas fees, as well as airdrops and even suggested educational resources.
Opera Crypto Browser’s default startpage.
The company also said the browser comes with cryptocurrency mining protection that blocks “cryptojacking” scripts that may compromise the performance of an iPhone or iPad device. Other security features include a native ad and tracker blocker, pop-up blocker and an intuitive Cookie Dialogue Blocker.
According to Jorgen Arnesen, EVP Mobile at Opera, the Crypto Browser targets the growing interest in Web3, whether its from veteran crypto users or newcomers.
“The Opera Crypto Browser Project was built to simplify the Web3 user experience that has often been bewildering for mainstream users. Opera believes Web3 has to be easy to use in order to reach its full potential and a mass adoption.”
Additionally, the browser company added support for eight major blockchain ecosystems – Bitcoin, Solana, Polygon, StarkEx, Ronin, Celo, Nervos Network and IXO. Opera said that it plans to integrate more Proof-of-Stake chains in the future.
Related: Opera to integrate with Polygon, opening DApp ecosystem to 80M users
Recently, Opera partnered with Yat, a platform that allows the creation of emoji-based web addresses or URLs. The “emojification” of Opera allows users to surf the web across its platform by entering certified Yats, or a string of emojis, into the URL bar instead of letters and words.