Opera
“Can a legacy browser company become the default financial access layer for underbanked users in Africa and Asia by embedding fintech services natively into the browsing experience?”
Founded1995
HQOslo, Norway
Latest roundPost-IPO Equity
IndustryHorizontal SaaS / Browser & Internet
The story
Opera began as a Norwegian web browser company and grew into a globally recognised internet platform. Following its 2016 acquisition by a Chinese consortium, Opera pivoted toward emerging markets — particularly Africa — incubating OPay as a mobile wallet and fintech app that grew into an independent unicorn. The core browser product has since layered embedded finance features including a native crypto on-ramp via Simplex, positioning the browser as a financial access point, particularly for users in Africa and Asia.
Product timeline
1995
Opera Software AS founded in Norway as a web browser company.· pivot
2016
Opera Software AS acquired by Chinese consortium led by KUNLUN; browser business separated from the legacy entity (which became Otello Corporation).· acquisition
2018
Opera launched OPay, a mobile wallet and fintech platform incubated in Nigeria targeting African markets.· banking
2019
OPay raised $120M Series B, becoming one of the largest African fintech rounds; Opera spun it out as an independent entity.· lending
2023
Opera integrated Simplex as a crypto on-ramp directly within the Opera browser for users.· banking
The stack
Crypto
Accounting gap: none