Opera Ltd, the Norway-based company behind the popular Opera browser, is reportedly going to add its built-in cryptocurrency wallet to its desktop browser, giving all of its 322 million users direct access to a crypto wallet.
According to a recent announcement, the company’s move comes in response to an “overwhelmingly positive response” from the cryptocurrency community and users of its Opera for Android browser, which introduced a built-in crypto wallet with support for ethereum (ETH) and decentralized apps (DApps) earlier this year.
Charles Hamel, product lead of Opera Crypto, stated:
By adding a crypto wallet directly into the browser, we removed the need for complex extensions or separate apps. Opening up the PC browser to crypto marks Opera’s second step towards making cryptocurrencies and Web 3.0 mainstream.
Per the company’s announcement, adding Opera’s built-in cryptocurrency wallet will remove two main obstacles associated with cryptocurrency management. The first is removed by helping users avoid adding cryptocurrency-related extensions to their browsers, as all they’ll need to do is connect their crypto wallet-enabled Opera mobile browser to their PC browser through a QR code.
The second obstacle being removed is related to security, as according to Opera the “phone’s secure system lock will be used to store the keys,” which will allow users to sign transactions using their fingerprints while bypassing passphrases.
Per Hamel, the move was also related to usability, as users will be able to “browse Web 3.0 and use Dapps on their computers,” which some prefer. He was quoted as saying:
Some users prefer to perform crypto payments or interact with Dapps on their desktop. They can now do so in a simple way by using the same wallet they have on their mobile phone.
As reported, Opera’s cryptocurrency wallet supports ERC-20 tokens and CryptoKitties, and is set to add support for other ERC-721 collectibles. The developers plan on adding support for other cryptocurrencies in the future.
Opera’s announcement touts the move is part of its long-term commitment of meeting the needs of users looking for built-in features in their browsers. It adds Opera tries to stay at the forefront of innovation, with its next aim being to “make crypto-integration mainstream.”
Notably Opera is adding its built-in crypto wallet to its desktop browser after crypto mining hardware manufacturer Bitmain invested $50 million in its initial public offering (IPO) last month.
