Opera announces beta of its new Web3 focused 'Crypto Browser'

Beta browser offers a built-in non-custodial wallet, available now to Windows, Mac and Android users.

Opera, the Norway-based company behind the popular internet browser, has released the beta version of its new Crypto Browser Project. This crypto browser aims to facilitate the user experience of browsing DApps, games and metaverse platforms by offering direct access to Web3 services for Windows, Mac and Android users.

The current Opera browser boasts a no-login VPN, and native ad & tracker blocker that help to make it secure. According to a release shared with Cointelegraph, the new crypto browser will maintain these security features, while integrating direct access to decentralized exchanges, NFTs and gaming DApps, as well as Telegram and Twitter support.

Jorgen Arnesen, EVP Mobile at Opera, stated that the main goal of the project is to help crypto and Web3 become more mainstream:

“Opera’s Crypto Browser Project promises a simpler, faster, more private Web3 experience for users. It simplifies Web3 user experience that is often bewildering for mainstream users. Opera believes Web3 has to be easy to use for the decentralized web to reach its full potential.”

A built-in non-custodial wallet will support Ethereum in beta, and thanks to recent partnerships, will soon extend to Polygon, Solana, Nervos, Celo, and naming systems like Unstoppable Domains, Handshake and ENS. Opera’s integration with Polygon (MATIC) is expected to go live in the first quarter of 2022.

The wallet supports both fungible ERC-20 standards as well as non-fungible ERC-721 standards, with ERC-1155 coming in Q1 2022. Users will also be able to purchase crypto via a built-in fiat-to-crypto on-ramp, complete crypto-to-crypto swaps and even access a built-in NFT gallery.

According to the company, Opera expects to receive feedback from the crypto community on their beta in order to implement any developments “together.”