Browser maker Opera’s Minipay, a stablecoin wallet built on the celo blockchain, has rolled out 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 USDT balances to USDT’s two largest Latin American payment systems, Pix in Brazil and Mercado Pago in Argentina. It is now available for more than 10 million wallet users.
The integration is designed to use crypto 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 is set to roll out in the future, Opera director of Global Comms Julia Szyndzielorz told Coindesk.
Noe, the infrastructure provider behind this feature, handles the instant conversion behind the scenes, so merchants receive their local currency – Argentine pesos or Brazilian reais – without having to touch crypto.
The move reflects a focused shift in the direction of crypto, away from speculation and toward real-world utility, Szyndzielor said. Pix, which handles more payments than cards in Brazil, is used by More than 76% of the population. Payment Market reach almost 70% of the Argentine market. Speaking to Coindesk, Opera’s Szyndzielor 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 throughout Latin America and Canada.
