Browser maker Opera’s MiniPay, a stablecoin wallet built on the Celo blockchain, has introduced a new feature enabling users to spend stablecoins directly at shops and services in Argentina and Brazil through a feature called “Pay like a local.”
This update, revealed during the Ethereum Devconnect conference in Buenos Aires, links dollar-denominated USDT balances to Latin America’s two largest payment systems, PIX in Brazil and Mercado Pago in Argentina. It is now accessible to over 10 million users of the wallet.
The integration aims to facilitate everyday crypto spending. Instead of manually converting USDT or depending on centralized exchanges, users can scan local QR codes and pay from their MiniPay wallet.
Support for PIX payments via QR code is expected to be implemented in the future, according to Opera’s Director of Global Comms, Julia Szyndzielorz.
Noah, the infrastructure provider for this feature, manages instant conversion behind the scenes, ensuring merchants receive their local currency—Argentine pesos or Brazilian reais—without needing to handle crypto.
This initiative signifies a focused shift in the direction of cryptocurrency, moving away from speculation and towards practicality, Szyndzielorz noted. PIX processes more transactions than cards in Brazil, used by over 76% of the population. Mercado Pago reaches nearly 70% of the Argentine market. Speaking to RialCenter, Szyndzielorz mentioned that “Pay like a local” will expand into additional markets in the future.
To support this growth, MiniPay is collaborating with El Dorado, AlfredPay, and Paytrie to establish on- and off-ramps across Latin America and Canada.
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