As Opera Challenges Brave Browser with Push Further into Crypto, How Do They Compare?

cryptonews.com:

The web browser Opera is strengthening its push into crypto by adding browser wallet support for multiple new blockchain networks, including Bitcoin (BTC), Solana (SOL), Polygon (MATIC), and Ronin (RON). The move is another step for Opera in challenging the crypto-native Brave browser as the dominant browser for Web3 users.

This week, Opera said its browser now supports digital assets from eight different blockchain networks. Notably, this includes not only Layer 1 blockchains like Bitcoin, but also Ethereum (ETH)-based Layer 2 networks such as Polygon and StarkEx.

The company further said that the integration of multiple blockchains is part of the browser’s strategy to remain “chain agnostic” and to “seamlessly onboard millions of users to Web3.”

“Opera’s support for Polygon exposes users to a popular Ethereum ecosystem with over 7,000 dapps to choose from, including popular gaming apps Sandbox, Decentraland, and Aavegotchi,” the company added.

The announcement marks the latest stage of development for Opera’s Crypto Browser Project, which first launched as a beta version in January 2022.

Opera’s Crypto Browser includes fully integrated support for decentralized applications (dapps), as well as a non-custodial crypto wallet that also supports swapping between different digital assets.

In addition, the browser comes with what Opera calls ‘Crypto Corner’ – an information hub that gives users an overview of things like crypto-related news, upcoming airdrops, and hot NFTs.

Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and launched as early as 1996, Opera established itself as a crypto-friendly web browser with a wallet built into its browser already in 2018. The browser had over 320 million active users as of April 2021, making it the fifth most