Opera now lets US users buy crypto with Apple Pay or debit card

[Baofeng]

The world’s first Web 3-ready browser just made it much easier to buy Bitcoin and Ethereum and spend it too.

Oslo – Opera was the first browser to introduce Web 3 capabilities and a built-in crypto wallet across all of its mobile and desktop browsers. The Norwegian company is now letting its US users easily purchase cryptocurrencies using a debit card or Apple Pay.

Easy crypto top ups are available in Opera’s flagship Android browser, its iOS browser Opera Touch as well as in the crypto wallet available in its desktop browser.

The integrated solution is available in the United States and Scandinavia

https://press.opera.com/2020/03/17/opera-crypto-wallet-easy-top-ups-us/

We need some positive news like this, I'm not a US citizen, however, I think this is another step to purchase BTC much easier using Apple Pay.

They are going to partner with Wyre - US cryptocurrency-brokerage firm, to enable crypto-purchases directly from their browser. They say that it is very easy and you can top up your crypto wallet in 30 seconds, but I don't know if that is true or not though.

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[Youghoor]

This is incredible! This would further expose bitcoin to other users who make use of Apple pay and debit card in having access to bitcoins. As well as crypto users who find it a bit difficult to spend their bitcoins. This new integration would allow the use of bitcoin to be used to pay for goods and services.

[tomahawk9]

Is the built-in wallet open source? If not then avoid using it. Remember what Andreas Antonopoulos always says: "not your keys, not your bitcoins".

Tbh, avoid using Opera, some shady stuff going on with that company lately: https://www.extremetech.com/internet/305149-opera-accused-of-operating-predatory-loan-apps-on-android

This is incredible! This would further expose bitcoin to other users <...>

Not really, not many people use Opera browser. You can google "browser market share" and you'll see how terrible Opera's numbers are compared to other browsers.

[K4C]

Once I used Opera browser regularly, from Java, Symbian to Android, IOS version! But Opera lost the track and now I can't trust them to continue my using! I saw this feature long ago, but this did not work on my Android! Then I did not bother to try harder! So, I am not that excited about this news.

[20kevin20]

Is the built-in wallet open source? If not then avoid using it. Remember what Andreas Antonopoulos always says: "not your keys, not your bitcoins".
~

I tried looking it up but there's no "open-source" reference to it anywhere on DuckDuckGo. I doubt it's open-source too. It looks like they do not have KYC though for now, which is good news. Here's the quote from cryptoiq.co:

What makes this service even more competitive than Coinbase is that users do not have to create an account or go through intensive know your customer (KYC) verification on the Opera browser, users simply have to enter in their payment information.
(..)
Further, it is rare to find an exchange where crypto can be bought instantly with little KYC and for low fees, and in general Opera’s crypto service could prove useful for all crypto users who need a hassle free way to buy crypto.

If there was a KYC-free open source wallet that allows debit card purchases, it would be amazing. I'm just kinda afraid to use debit cards now, considering the fact that we're in the middle of an economical recession.

[crypticj]

It looks like the way Opera uses for revitalizing their audience and attracting a narrower blockchain community. I like it

[tomahawk9]

Is the built-in wallet open source? If not then avoid using it. Remember what Andreas Antonopoulos always says: "not your keys, not your bitcoins".
~

I tried looking it up but there's no "open-source" reference to it anywhere on DuckDuckGo. I doubt it's open-source too. It looks like they do not have KYC though for now, which is good news. <...>

Thanks for the info. Well, that's a big red flag. I already posted some of the shady practices Opera have incurred recently, god knows what could happen if you decide to store (hodl) your crypto in this built-in wallet.

It looks like the way Opera uses for revitalizing their audience and attracting a narrower blockchain community.

Just like they wanted to attract new users a few years ago with their built-in VPN (especially those from the "privacy" community) but the whole thing failed miserably because the VPN is nothing but garbage 

[IMZ]

If there was a KYC-free open source wallet that allows debit card purchases, it would be amazing. I'm just kinda afraid to use debit cards now, considering the fact that we're in the middle of an economical recession.

Debit card purchases are big chargeback risks. I don't think that any open-source wallet will intergrate this option.

[Herdirfauzi]

Is anywhere else this is possible? The best method for buying crypto.

[shield132]

It's a very wise decision for both, commercial purposes and massive crypto adoption. Samsung did great when they decided to offer built in blockchain wallet but more likely that would be limited to samsung's devices but the reason Opera's decision was most wise is that this browser is very popular, is available on windows/linux/mac, on all android and ios devices. This is huge advantage there to have access on your crypto wallet via your browser on smartphone and on any device you carry but of course it has some risks, you have to keep security on high level (everyone should take security on high level in any way).
Very good step in overall and great decision from Opera's team, this is serious signal and will not only boost bitcoin's adoption but also will play great role in bitcoin's history. I guess if opera does this, firefox may follow it and possible chrome too but since this last one is owned by google, they may just ignore this fact.

[squatter]

Is the built-in wallet open source? If not then avoid using it. Remember what Andreas Antonopoulos always says: "not your keys, not your bitcoins".

Users do control their own keys with the Opera wallet.

The Opera browser is partially open sourced since it's Chrome-based, but most of the UI and presumably the cryptocurrency wallet are not.

I would especially avoid the Android version. The Android wallet relies on the Android keystore system, which has been broken several times:
Android KeyStore crypto key vulnerability affects 86 percent of Android devices
Android KeyStore Encryption Scheme Broken, Researchers Say

[Meowth05]

This is a very nice feature that makes Opera one step ahead of other browsers. If other browsers are trying to copy this model then it is a win-win situation for cryptocurrency industry because not only that you can have more platforms for transaction this also advertises cryptocurrency effectivity for transactions.

[AAXExchange]

The world’s first Web 3-ready browser just made it much easier to buy Bitcoin and Ethereum and spend it too.

Oslo – Opera was the first browser to introduce Web 3 capabilities and a built-in crypto wallet across all of its mobile and desktop browsers. The Norwegian company is now letting its US users easily purchase cryptocurrencies using a debit card or Apple Pay.

Easy crypto top ups are available in Opera’s flagship Android browser, its iOS browser Opera Touch as well as in the crypto wallet available in its desktop browser.

The integrated solution is available in the United States and Scandinavia

https://press.opera.com/2020/03/17/opera-crypto-wallet-easy-top-ups-us/

We need some positive news like this, I'm not a US citizen, however, I think this is another step to purchase BTC much easier using Apple Pay.

They are going to partner with Wyre - US cryptocurrency-brokerage firm, to enable crypto-purchases directly from their browser. They say that it is very easy and you can top up your crypto wallet in 30 seconds, but I don't know if that is true or not though.

This is very good news in such difficult days. A big step forward for all cryptocurrencies and people. We'll wait for more good news and serious steps from such large companies and corporations.

[Shame_Game]

This is exactly what I was missing. Finally, they implemented this feature.

[ethereumhunter]

That is good movements from Opera, but I feel not comfortable to use an add-on or anything from the browser because I am too afraid with the malware that might attack the browser. I feel better to buy crypto from the exchanges or another method than buying from the browser, but I don't know what people will choose.

[pawanjain]

I don't really think that this would make any difference to bitcoin's price especially in the current market where Corona is taking over every market.
Though it's a nice feature and Apple pay supporting it is a big deal but as per the crash in the economy nobody will actually use it.
Despite that, Opera has a low userbase and so this won't make a big difference in the price of bitcoin.

[joniboini]

I don't really think that this would make any difference to bitcoin's price especially in the current market where Corona is taking over every market.

Not everything is about Bitcoin price. It's about the number of channels people can use to get or spend their cryptocurrency. I personally won't use this but for some newbies which use Opera as their main browser, it might attract their interest. In the end, it's about a business trying to get income by allowing their customer to do something easily from their product.

I expect we'll see more of this thing, alongside with Bitcoin/crypto prepaid cards services.

[pawanjain]

I don't really think that this would make any difference to bitcoin's price especially in the current market where Corona is taking over every market.

Not everything is about Bitcoin price. It's about the number of channels people can use to get or spend their cryptocurrency. I personally won't use this but for some newbies which use Opera as their main browser, it might attract their interest. In the end, it's about a business trying to get income by allowing their customer to do something easily from their product.

I expect we'll see more of this thing, alongside with Bitcoin/crypto prepaid cards services.

Well that's probably true. Not everything is about bitcoin's price.
So I guess we can consider it an an use case. To be honest Opera doesn't have a large userbase.
In my perspective, Opera should have given the ability to the user to buy and send the crypto to user's personal wallet rather than creating a wallet by Opera itself. It would have save time and effort to Opera and would have saved it maintenance cost while giving it's customer the ability to send the coins to their personal wallet which provides a sense of security.

[fiulpro]

Not even apple pay , but many countries have now integrated a system where you can buy and sell cryptocurrencies through the normal banking app .
In many countries where the government told banks not to engage in buying and selling of Bitcoins , now the banks after a hard fought war by the cryptocurrencies enthusiasts are allowing buying and selling directly through your wallet .
The wallet is also providing a space to sell your cryptocurrencies and then directly transfer them into your account.
It's way easier for the people to do so.

[sunsilk]

I don't use Opera but this seems to be a big up for them and is a good way for them to regain back their users that has seen features from other browsers.

As long as it's opening and giving an idea for beginners how they can purchase crypto, it's an addition and giving contribution to the adoption.