Tether has expanded support for its USD₮ stablecoin and Tether Gold through Opera’s MiniPay wallet, deepening its push into emerging markets where demand for dollar-based savings and payments continues to rise.
The announcement, dated Feb. 2, confirms that users of Opera’s self-custodial MiniPay wallet can now send, receive, and hold USD₮, while also converting balances into XAUt0, an interoperable version of Tether Gold. MiniPay operates on the Celo blockchain and targets mobile-first regions across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
Tether said the expansion is designed to improve access to stable, dollar-denominated value for users who often lack traditional banking options.
“Tether’s mission has always been to provide simple, reliable access to stable value for people who need it most,” said Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino. “By supporting USD₮ and XAUt0 in MiniPay, we’re helping create tools that make digital assets genuinely useful, whether for sending money, saving in dollars, or protecting value in gold.”
MiniPay user growth accelerates across emerging markets
MiniPay has become one of the largest self-custodial stablecoin wallets globally. Opera reported more than 12.6 million activated wallets and over 350 million transactions across 60 countries. The wallet recorded 50% growth in on-chain users during the fourth quarter of 2025, with adoption concentrated in emerging markets.
In December 2025, MiniPay housed 7 million phone-verified USD₮ wallets. During that month, users initiated more than 96 million USD₮ in transfers and completed over 3.5 million peer-to-peer payments.
Across all integrations, more than $153 million moved through MiniPay in December alone. Users also added over $49 million in cash through local partners such as Fonbank, Partna, Daimo, Cashramp, Binance, and Bybit, which connected local payment rails with Tether’s global liquidity network.
“Integrating USD₮ directly into MiniPay turns smartphone reach into real financial access,” said Jørgen Arnesen, EVP Mobile at Opera. “Millions of users are now holding, sending, and saving in digital dollars seamlessly, often for the first time.”
Tokenized gold gains traction amid inflation concerns
Alongside USD₮, MiniPay now supports Tether Gold via XAUt0. The token represents ownership of physical gold and offers users a savings option tied to a traditional store of value.
Gold prices rose sharply during 2025, with gains near 50% during the year. Tether positioned XAUt0 as a hedge against inflation and currency volatility, especially in regions that face persistent monetary instability.
Tether Gold ranks among the most established tokenized real-world assets, with on-chain transparency that links digital tokens to physical reserves. XAUt0 operates through third-party Mini Apps and is not issued directly by Tether, according to the company’s disclosures.
Stablecoin demand contrasts with broader market pullback
The MiniPay expansion comes as stablecoin usage in emerging markets shows resilience, even while broader crypto market indicators weaken. Total stablecoin market capitalization began to decline in December after two years of expansion, according to CryptoQuant.
CryptoQuant data showed net stablecoin-to-exchange inflows turned negative after a $9.6 billion drop, followed by an additional $4 billion in outflows. CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost attributed the shift to rising risk aversion among later market entrants.
Despite those trends, MiniPay activity suggests continued transactional demand rather than speculative use. Tether emphasized everyday payments, savings, and peer-to-peer transfers as primary use cases across its MiniPay integration.
Regulatory clarity and operational boundaries
Tether and Opera emphasized that MiniPay operates as a non-custodial wallet. Users initiate on-chain transfers themselves, while third-party providers supply on-ramp, off-ramp, and top-up services accessible through the MiniPay ecosystem.
Tether stated that USD₮ and XAU₮ sales and redemptions remain governed by its published terms of service. TG Commodities, S.A. de C.V. oversees gold-related redemptions under separate conditions.
Opera shares reacted positively to the announcement. The stock rose as much as 18% intraday on Feb. 2 before closing with gains above 13%, followed by additional after-hours upside, according to market data.
Gunel Ismayilova
Disclosure: This article is based on publicly available announcements and third-party data sources. The publisher does not receive compensation from Tether, Opera, or any affiliated entities for the coverage of their products or services. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice.
