Opera (NASDAQ: OPRA), “the company behind the popular cross-platform web browser”, has added support for BNB Chain in its “Crypto Browser” project.

On February 15, Binance announced the BNB Chain, which it called “the evolution of the Binance Smart Chain.” Binance said the BNB Chain network has two components:

• “BNB Beacon Chain (formerly Binance Chain) – BNB Chain Governance (Staking, Voting)“
• “BNB Smart Chain (BSC) (formerly Binance Smart Chain) – EVM compatible, consensus layers and with hubs for multi-chains“

According to a report (published May 5) by Cointelegraph, users of Opera’s Crypto Browser now have access to BNB Chain-based DApps on Android, iOS, and desktop devices.

Users can now purchase a fuel/governance token $BNB (formerly known as Binance Coin), which stands for “Build and build“, via fiat via the integrated Opera crypto wallet, in addition to transferring the token between addresses. The extensive DApp list available through BNB Chain includes access to several popular decentralized exchanges (DEXs), such as PancakeSwap, 1inch, and BiSwap.

According to a press release from Opera on April 14, “Web 3 is gaining momentum, with a record 34,000 developers joining the space in 2021 to work on a growing number of dApps.” Unfortunately, “the Web3 experience for users is often far from intuitive and traditionally not optimized for iOS users.” With iOS support recently introduced, Opera’s Crypto Browser – “a dedicated web3 browser with an integrated non-custodial crypto wallet” – looks “ready to take adoption and usability up a notch” .

The press release went on to say that the iOS version of Opera Crypto Browser “follows the January beta release on Mac, Windows, and Android” and that the goal of the Crypto Browser project is “a streamlined user experience across decentralized applications (dapps), games, and metaverse platforms. The browser “features a news and data aggregator named ‘Crypto Corner’, a bespoke start page focused on live crypto news and updates, crypto asset prices and gas fees, and crypto events, airdrops and even podcasts.”

Jorgen Arnesen, EVP Mobile at Opera, said:

“Interest in Web3 continues to grow. The Opera Crypto Browser project was designed to simplify the Web3 user experience that has often been confusing for mainstream users. Opera believes that Web3 must be easy to use in order to reach its full potential and mass adoption.

Here is what crypto support means:

“In the Opera Crypto Browser project, users gain access to an integrated non-custodial crypto wallet supporting the Ethereum, Polygon, and Celo blockchain ecosystems with further blockchain integration already on the roadmap. Key browser features include a noncustodial crypto wallet with the ability to buy crypto with fiat, send, receive, and trade tokens from any supported blockchain, as well as access seamless and direct to decentralized exchanges, Web3-based NFTs, and gaming Dapps – including over 7,000 Polygon-based services. Web3 is accessible as seamlessly as any website on Web2.

“The browser on iOS also offers the ability to restore any Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible wallet with the native Opera wallet, allowing users to integrate their existing assets and balances into their Crypto Browser setup.”

Opera also mentioned that:

“The browser was also designed to address the growing pains of crypto. As Web3 booms, users and developers are increasingly turning to more efficient and environmentally friendly PoS and Layer 2 chains, which enable cheaper transactions and much lower power consumption than that of PoW blockchains. To address this issue, Opera has partnered with Polygon and will integrate more PoS chains in the future. Polygon consumes only 0.00079 terawatts (TWh) of electricity per year, significantly less than power-intensive Proof-of-Work (PoW) blockchain networks, which consume on average between 35 and 140 (TWh) per year.”

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