Opera’s shares surged nearly 18% on Monday after the company integrated Tether’s USDT stablecoin into its MiniPay wallet, highlighting its aggressive pivot into crypto. The Oslo-based browser company saw its stock jump from $12.42 to $14.87, closing at $14.10 for a more than 13% daily gain. This market reaction underscores investor optimism around Opera’s strategy to embed financial services directly into its mobile browser, though questions persist about how the company will monetize its over 12 million activated wallets and convert user growth into sustainable revenue.
about Opera Stock Soars 18% After Adding Tether USDT to MiniPay WalletCelo
0 posts last weekPrimeXBT Adds 40 Crypto Futures Pairs with High Leverage
In a significant move to capture emerging market narratives, global crypto and CFD broker PrimeXBT has launched 40 new crypto futures trading pairs. This expansion, announced from its Castries, Saint Lucia base, targets high-demand sectors including AI, DeFi, meme tokens, and Layer-1 networks, offering traders leverage of up to 400x on select pairs and broadening zero-fee trading options. The update underscores the broker’s strategy to provide timely, cost-efficient access to volatile crypto markets where new trends can rapidly gain momentum.
about PrimeXBT Adds 40 Crypto Futures Pairs with High LeverageStripe Acquires Valora Team to Boost Crypto Initiatives
In a strategic move signaling its deepening commitment to digital assets, payments behemoth Stripe has acquired the development team from crypto wallet firm Valora. The acquisition, which sees Valora’s builders join Stripe’s ranks to work on its blockchain initiatives, comes just one day after Stripe launched the testnet for its stablecoin-focused blockchain project, Tempo. This dual-action week underscores Stripe’s methodical push to establish a formidable presence in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space, leveraging proven talent to accelerate its ambitions.
about Stripe Acquires Valora Team to Boost Crypto InitiativesOpera & Celo Expand Partnership for Global Stablecoin Payments
Opera and the Celo Foundation are deepening their collaboration to make low-cost stablecoin payments accessible worldwide, announcing an ambitious expansion at Binance Blockchain Week. With the goal of reaching a billion users by 2030, the partnership leverages the explosive growth of their MiniPay wallet and targets key emerging markets where stablecoin adoption is surging, particularly in Latin America.
about Opera & Celo Expand Partnership for Global Stablecoin PaymentsWhy Altcoin L1s Are Becoming Ethereum L2s
A fundamental transformation is reshaping the cryptocurrency landscape as major Layer 1 blockchains increasingly choose integration with Ethereum over isolation. The compelling cases of Celo and Ronin demonstrate how transitioning to Ethereum Layer 2 architecture delivers dramatic cost savings while maintaining sovereignty and user engagement. This strategic shift, championed by Ethereum Foundation’s James_gaps, reveals an undeniable economic rationale that could redefine the future trajectory of the entire altcoin ecosystem.
about Why Altcoin L1s Are Becoming Ethereum L2sTezos Partners with Google Cloud to Boost Etherlink Ecosystem
In a strategic move to accelerate Web3 development, the Tezos Foundation has partnered with Google Cloud to provide substantial resources for its burgeoning Etherlink ecosystem. This collaboration makes qualified Etherlink developers eligible for Google Cloud’s Web3 Startup Program, offering up to $200,000 in cloud credits, technical assistance, and valuable networking opportunities. The initiative represents a significant boost for the energy-efficient Tezos blockchain’s Layer-2 solution, which has already demonstrated impressive growth with over $70 million in total value locked despite broader market challenges.
about Tezos Partners with Google Cloud to Boost Etherlink EcosystemEthereum L1 Revival: DeFi Giants Return as L2s Save Millions
Ethereum’s Layer 1 is experiencing a remarkable resurgence as major DeFi projects and alternative blockchains migrate back to the mainnet or transition to Layer 2 solutions. High-value protocols like Synthetix and Aave are reinforcing Ethereum’s dominance while projects like Celo and Ronin are switching to L2 models, generating significant cost savings. This strategic shift underscores Ethereum’s renewed position as the central hub for decentralized finance.
about Ethereum L1 Revival: DeFi Giants Return as L2s Save MillionsMiniPay Launches Global Freelancer Payment Features
A non-custodial stablecoin wallet provider has introduced groundbreaking payment features targeting the rapidly expanding global freelance market. MiniPay, built on the Ethereum layer-2 blockchain Celo, now enables freelancers worldwide to receive dollar and euro payments through virtual bank accounts, automatically converting them into stablecoins like USDT and USDC. This innovation addresses the longstanding challenges of expensive cross-border payments and lengthy settlement times that have plagued international freelancers for years.
about MiniPay Launches Global Freelancer Payment FeaturesCoinStats Integrates Glider Token Risk to Combat Crypto Scams
In a decisive move against the rising tide of cryptocurrency fraud, portfolio management platform CoinStats has integrated Glider Token Risk, an advanced smart contract scanning technology from elite cybersecurity firm Hexens. This integration equips traders with a powerful pre-trade defense, offering instant analysis of over 22 smart contract risks. The timing is critical: 2024 has seen over 74,000 scam tokens launch, draining nearly $10 billion from unsuspecting traders, with 94% of these malicious tokens containing exploit logic from day one.
about CoinStats Integrates Glider Token Risk to Combat Crypto ScamsVitalik Buterin Weighs In on L1 to L2 Transition Debate
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has entered the debate on whether layer-1 blockchains should transition to become Ethereum layer-2 solutions, responding to Ethereum Foundation’s Jason Chaskin’s recent comments. Chaskin pointed to Celo’s successful transition as a blueprint, noting benefits like reduced inflation, streamlined code, faster block times, and integration with Ethereum’s vast developer community. The discussion reflects growing pressure on independent layer-1 networks to maintain relevance in an increasingly Ethereum-dominated ecosystem, with layer-2 solutions emerging as a potential path forward for interoperability and scalability.
about Vitalik Buterin Weighs In on L1 to L2 Transition DebateCelo Launches Isthmus Hardfork with Ethereum Upgrades
Celo’s Isthmus hardfork, launching on July 9th, 2025, marks a significant milestone by incorporating Ethereum EIPs and OP Stack improvements, including EigenDA v2 for better data handling. The upgrade reduces block times to 1 second and enables native cross-chain bridging without third parties. Additionally, it introduces gas optimizations and supports Bando wallet integrations in over 110 countries. Node operators must update their software to avoid disruptions, while exchanges will temporarily suspend CELO deposits and withdrawals. The CELO token has surged 8.46% amid the upgrade hype.
about Celo Launches Isthmus Hardfork with Ethereum UpgradesVelodrome Launches Superswaps for Seamless Cross-Chain Swaps
Velodrome, a leading DeFi protocol on the Optimism network, has launched Superswaps, a feature designed to streamline cross-chain token swaps within the Optimism Superchain. Superswaps eliminates the need for bridges or wrapped tokens, allowing users to swap native tokens across OP Stack networks like OP Mainnet, Base, and Celo effortlessly. The feature leverages Hyperlane for secure and fast transactions while maintaining a user-friendly interface. Additionally, the integration with Earned Network’s automation platform enables passive yield farming strategies, further enhancing DeFi accessibility. This development coincides with Optimism’s upcoming governance overhaul, set to involve a broader range of stakeholders. Despite a slight dip in OP token price, trading volume remains robust, reflecting sustained interest in the network.
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