Opera launches Crypto Browser beta that's all about the blockchain and cryptocurrency

Opera Crypto Browser (Image credit: Opera)

What you need to know

Opera just announced the beta version of its new Crypto Browser.
It is a dedicated Web3 browser that's built with the decentralized internet in mind.
The Crypto Browser is available in beta for PC, Mac, and Android.

Opera announced a new browser today that's built around Web3 and the decentralized internet. The Crypto Browser is available in beta on PC, Mac, and Android starting today. An iOS version of Opera's new browser is also on the way. Opera highlights that its new project is a dedicated browser build for Web3. The browser features a native non-custodial crypto wallet that lets people access crypto and use decentralized apps without having to use an extension.

The term Web3 refers to a stage of web development. As the name would suggest, Web3 follows the footsteps of Web2 and Web1. Web3 is touted as more secure than previous versions of the web. The largest difference is that when building content for Web3, apps usually run on the blockchain rather than a single server. In some cases, people can earn cryptocurrency by helping host content.

An in-depth explainer by freeCodeCamp dives deep into Web3 if you want to learn more.

Web3 is built around crypto and the decentralized internet. Browsers that support Web3 have native support for decentralized applications, also known as DApps. Web3 also supports decentralized finance (DeFi). These terms are still foreign to many general browsers of the web, which is an issue Opera is trying to address. Opera explains that it wants to make blockchain technologies understandable, and its new Crypto Browser is part of that effort.

Opera Crypto Browser beta

Opera's Crypto Browser is built with Web3 and the decentralized internet in mind. Web3 is a new stage of web development that could become more of a household name in the future. Generally, apps developed for Web3 are secure and work well with crypto.

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Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.