Tether has partnered with Opera to expand support for USDT and Tether Gold through Opera’s MiniPay wallet, a move aimed at improving access to stable digital money across emerging markets.
The partnership, announced on Feb. 2, allows MiniPay users to send, receive, and hold USDT, while also giving them the option to convert part of their balance into Tether Gold (XAU₮). The added gold-backed option is designed to help users protect savings against inflation and local currency volatility.
MiniPay is Opera’s self-custodial wallet built on the Celo blockchain and focuses on mobile-first regions such as Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. According to Opera, the wallet has seen rapid growth, expanding by around 50% in the fourth quarter of 2025 alone.
Growing demand for stable digital money
MiniPay is currently available on both Android and iOS and operates in more than 60 countries, with roughly 12.6 million activated wallets. The wallet first introduced USDT support in mid-2024, but usage has accelerated sharply since then.
By December 2025, MiniPay hosted over 7 million phone-verified USDT wallets, with users processing more than 96 million USDT transfers and 3.5 million peer-to-peer payments in a single month, according to data shared by Tether.
“Tether’s mission has always been to provide simple and reliable access to stable value for people who need it most,” said Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino. “By supporting USDT and Tether Gold in MiniPay, we’re helping create practical tools for everyday use whether that’s sending money, saving in dollars, or protecting value in gold.”
Opera echoed that view, highlighting MiniPay’s role in bringing digital dollars to users who may not have easy access to traditional banking services.
“Millions of users are now holding, sending, and saving in digital dollars seamlessly, often for the first time,” said Jørgen Arnesen, EVP of Mobile at Opera. “MiniPay brings stable, on-chain money to the people who need it most.”
Tether Gold adds inflation protection
Alongside USDT, MiniPay users can now access Tether Gold (XAU₮), a token backed by physical gold. The addition offers users a way to store value in gold without leaving the wallet, providing an alternative savings option in regions where inflation and currency instability remain persistent challenges.
Opera said the integration aligns with its broader strategy of embedding Web3 tools directly into its products, including stablecoin wallets, decentralized applications, and digital savings features.
Opera shares jump after announcement
Investors responded positively to the partnership. Opera’s stock surged nearly 18% intraday following the announcement before closing the session with gains of just over 13.5%, followed by additional strength in after-hours trading.
The rally reflects growing investor confidence in Opera’s Web3 expansion strategy, as the company continues to blend traditional browser services with blockchain-based financial tools.
