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MiniPay, Celo, and Mento Labs Revolutionize Financial Inclusion at Africa Tech Summit



By MAXIMILLA WAFULA 
County Diary News 

Nairobi, February 14, 2024

Mr. Marcus CEO Mento labs, Middle Product Marketing Manager Opera  Dr.Tosin Onikosi  and Product Marketing manager Celo,  Kate Eldaly .

In a groundbreaking development towards financial inclusion, Opera, in collaboration with Celo and Mento Labs, proudly announces the achievement of surpassing 1 million users for the MiniPay wallet across Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana. This milestone will be celebrated at the Africa Money and DeFi Summit in Nairobi on February 14-15, 2024.

Empowering Financial Inclusion

MiniPay, a self-custodial dollar stablecoin wallet seamlessly integrated into the Opera Mini browser, is empowering users to save, send, and receive funds instantly on their mobile phones with minimal transaction fees. Built on the Celo blockchain, MiniPay's mission is to bring the benefits of decentralized finance (DeFi) to millions across Africa.

The strategic partnership between MiniPay, Celo, and Mento Labs is focused on fostering financial inclusion and economic stability in Africa. Mento's decentralized cUSD stablecoins, integrated into the MiniPay ecosystem, play a crucial role in mitigating currency volatility, providing a reliable store of value, especially in regions affected by hyperinflation.

User-Friendly Design and Collaboration

Charles Hamel, Product Director at MiniPay, highlights the user-friendly design, making MiniPay accessible for users of all experience levels to benefit from decentralized finance. Jason Rodrigues, Head of Founder Programs at the Celo Foundation, expresses excitement about supporting the mission, aiming to provide real-world users with access to inclusive financial tools seamlessly.

Markus Franke, CEO at Mento Labs, adds enthusiasm for supporting the MiniPay rollout, emphasizing speed, reliability, and financial inclusivity as core project values.

Africa Money and DeFi Summit Highlights

The Africa Money and DeFi Summit will feature a Fireside Chat Keynote titled "Onboarding Millions of Users Across Africa to Web3." This session, scheduled for February 14 at 10:30 am, will provide insights into the future of decentralized finance, offering a unique perspective on empowering individuals across the African continent.

Attendees are invited to explore MiniPay at Booth #77, where live demonstrations and engaging conversations will showcase the transformative impact of fast, easy, and affordable payments.


Encouraging User Adoption

MiniPay encourages users in Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana to download or update the Opera Mini browser, set up a MiniPay wallet, and start enjoying the benefits of sending more and paying less.

Opera Mini, launched in 2006, continues to offer a superior internet experience with features like data compression, offline file sharing, and a built-in ad-blocker, connecting millions worldwide.

Opera, a global web innovator with over 25 years of innovation, provides a range of products and services, including desktop and mobile browsers, gaming, crypto, and classifieds apps.

Celo, an emerging Ethereum layer-2 blockchain, supports a rich ecosystem with over 1,000 projects worldwide in DeFi, ReFi, and NFT sectors.

Mento Labs, the development team behind Mento, enables real-world use cases of digital assets, supporting four decentralized stable assets and providing customized solutions for partners to launch and operate digital assets globally.

This collaboration signifies a remarkable step towards a more inclusive and accessible financial landscape, bringing the benefits of Web3 to the heart of Africa. The future holds promise as MiniPay, Celo, and Mento Labs continue to revolutionize financial inclusion on the continent.
Ends .....

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