Browser maker Opera’s MiniPay, a stablecoin wallet built on the Celo blockchain, has launched a new feature that allows users to spend stablecoins directly at stores and services in Argentina and Brazil through a feature called “Pay like a local.”
The update, announced during the Ethereum Devconnect conference in Buenos Aires, connects dollar-denominated USDT balances with the two largest payment systems in Latin America, PIX in Brazil and Mercado Pago in Argentina. It is now available to the wallet’s more than 10 million users.
The integration is designed to make cryptocurrencies usable for everyday spending. Instead of converting USDT manually or relying on centralized exchanges, users can scan local QR codes and pay from their MiniPay wallet.
Support for PIX payments via QR code will be implemented in the future, Opera global communications director Julia Szyndzielorz told CoinDesk.
Noah, the infrastructure provider behind the feature, handles instant conversion behind the scenes, so merchants receive their local currency (Argentine pesos or Brazilian reals) without needing to touch cryptocurrencies.
The move reflects a shift in focus in the direction of cryptocurrencies, away from speculation and toward real-world utility, Szyndzielorz said. PIX, which handles more payments than cards in Brazil, is used by more than 76% of the population. Mercado Pago reaches almost 70% of the Argentine market. Speaking to CoinDesk, Opera’s Szyndzielorz said “Pay Like a Local” will expand to other markets in the future.
To support the expansion, MiniPay is partnering with El Dorado, AlfredPay and Paytrie to provide on- and off-ramps in Latin America and Canada.
