Opera Shares Surge 17% on Expanded Crypto Wallet Support, Fueling Growth Outlook
Shares of web browser developer Opera Limited (NASDAQ: OPRA) surged sharply on Monday, climbing as much as 17% in a single session. The jump came on the heels of a dual announcement: a significant expansion of its cryptocurrency wallet capabilities and preliminary financial results that exceeded market expectations.
The company revealed it is deepening its partnership with Tether to integrate broader support for the USDT stablecoin and introduce XAU₮, a gold-pegged digital token, into its MiniPay self-custodial wallet. Built on the Celo blockchain, MiniPay is specifically designed for markets in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, where access to stable digital dollars can circumvent volatile local currencies and limited banking infrastructure.
"Our mission aligns with providing accessible financial tools where they are needed most," said Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino in a statement. The move appears to be meeting clear demand. Since its late 2023 launch, MiniPay has processed over 350 million transactions across more than 12.6 million activated wallets. Momentum is accelerating, with the platform facilitating over 3.5 million peer-to-peer payments and moving more than 96 million USDT in December 2025 alone.
Investor enthusiasm was compounded by a separate positive signal. Opera disclosed that its fourth-quarter 2025 revenue is projected to exceed $170 million, topping its prior guidance. This puts full-year 2025 revenue above $608 million, marking a robust 26% year-over-year growth.
The stock opened at $13.86, up from a previous close of $12.42, and reached an intraday high of $14.87, boosting the company's market capitalization to approximately $1.3 billion. Analysts maintain a cautiously optimistic stance, with a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating and an average price target of $23.50, suggesting significant potential upside from current levels.
Market Voices:
"This isn't just a crypto play; it's a strategic penetration into high-growth, underserved markets," commented David Chen, a fintech analyst at Horizon Insights. "MiniPay's transaction volume shows product-market fit. Combining that with strong core browser revenue creates a compelling narrative."
"The stock pop is dramatic, but let's see user retention and regulatory hurdles," noted Priya Sharma, a portfolio manager focused on emerging markets. "The growth in Africa is impressive, but sustainability is key. The revenue beat is the more concrete positive here."
"It's another hype-driven bubble in the making," argued Marcus Thorne, a vocal skeptic of crypto-integration models. "Opera is chasing speculative crypto trends while its core browser market share is stagnant. This 17% spike will evaporate once the novelty wears off and regulators take a closer look at stablecoin usage in these regions."
Opera is positioning itself at the intersection of two growth engines: cryptocurrency-based payment solutions in emerging economies and its expanding suite of partnership-driven services. The company is scheduled to release its complete Q4 2025 financial results on February 26, 2026, which will provide a clearer picture of profitability and the operational costs behind its crypto ambitions.