It looks like Apple's enclosed ecosystem is slowly opening up—in the EU, at least. On January 25th, 2024, the Big Tech giant revealed changes to its App Store and business model given new requirements under the Digital Market Act (DMA) due to come into force in March.
Apple's announcement was met with controversies, though. Many commentators, including Meta's founder Mark Zuckerberg and music app behemoth Spotify, deemed it as a farce. According to VPN service provider Proton VPN, “Apple is trying to profit off the DMA.” Echoing such concerns, web browser Mozilla sees this as “another example of Apple creating barriers to prevent true browser competition on iOS.”
Developers at Opera are more optimistic about Apple's new iOS browser rules and decided to celebrate launching an AI-powered alternative to Safari. I talked with Jona Bolin, Product Manager at Opera browser for iOS, to understand what all of this means for users in and out of Europe.
An opportunity to get more control
“I think it's great that they are changing the regulations,” Bolin told me. “For us, it's an opportunity to have high control.”
He went on to explain that while distribution is a major factor for other developers, the fact that Opera browser is a free service means that it won't be affected as much by new fees and payment requirements.
“Even though, we would have to develop two different apps,” Bolin told me, adding that the challenge will be encouraging users to migrate from one app to another instead.
That's because as Apple opens up to third-party web browser engines for the first time—until now only Safari's WebKit engine was allowed for iOS—the provider has only done so for EU apps. This ultimately means twice as much work for browsers' developers.
Despite this burden, Bolin expects Apple's changes to make it easier for the team to implement the same level of features across Opera's range of apps. “Out of the box, we would get high security and a better process from where we can build on top of,” he added.
NEW BROWSER FOR iOS INCOMING!Our new AI-centric Opera One browser will be built on its own engine, celebrating the opening of iOS to alternative browser engines. pic.twitter.com/GQdohWmp5WJanuary 26, 2024
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The Norwegian browser already announced plans to bring its AI-centric browser, Opera One, to iOS to give users a better AI-powered alternative to Safari. This is expected to be released in the next few months.
Outside the EU, both the UK and the US are voting on legislation that echoes the DMA's effort to ensure fair competition within the tech market and protect people's digital rights.
Bolin hopes that new DMA requirements in the EU could then be only the first step “to put pressure” on the big tech giant to open up its ecosystem for all.
He said: “I think more countries need to move forward and then maybe Apple will also change. We also believe that [the DMA] can be a good test run, so maybe Apple would realize that it's also working on their side. We hope that in the future they will bring it to other markets—we believe that it will happen, eventually.”
After releasing its Crypto Browser Project on Windows, Mac and Android back in January, Opera has now launched a version of its cryptocurrency-focused browser on iOS.
For those unfamiliar, the company’s new browser is based around cryptocurrency and will provide users with an easier way to browse decentralized apps (dApps), games and metaverse platforms for a more seamless cross-platform experience.
Opera’s Crypto Browser Project also features a news and data aggregator named “Crypto Corner”, a bespoke start page with live crypto information and updates, crypto asset prices and gas fees as well as crypto events, airdrops and even podcasts.
While Web3 is gaining momentum on the developer side with 34k developers joining the space in 2021 alone, the Web3-experience for users is still far from intuitive and is not optimized for iPhone users.
For these reasons, Opera has decided to add support for iOS to its Crypto Browser which is a dedicated Web3 browser with a built-in non-custodial crypto wallet.
Opera Crypto Browser on iOS
In addition to giving users access to Web3 and dApps, Opera’s Crypto Browser on iOS also includes cryptocurrency mining protection that can block any ‘cryptojacking’ scripts that could compromise a user’s iPhone and decrease its performance.
The browser on iOS even features the ability to restore any Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible crypto wallet with the native Opera Wallet so that users can integrate their existing assets and balances into their Crypto Browser setup.
At the same time, Opera’s Crypto Browser is designed to address crypto’s growing pains with support for more efficient and environmentally-friendly PoS and Layer 2 chains which enable cheaper transactions and consume far less energy than Proof-of-Work (PoW) Blockchains. As such, the company has partnered with Polygon and will be integrating more PoS chains in its browser going forward.
EVP of mobile at Opera, Joregne Arnesen provided further insight in a press release on how the company’s Crypto Browser makes Web3 more accessible for users, saying:
“The interest in Web3 is continuing to grow. The Opera Crypto Browser Project was built to simplify the Web3 user experience that has often been bewildering for mainstream users. Opera believes Web3 has to be easy to use in order to reach its full potential and a mass adoption.”
iOS users interested in cryptocurrency or checking out Web3 and dApps for themselves can now download Opera’s Crypto Browser from Apple’s App Store.
After releasing its Crypto Browser Project on Windows, Mac and Android back in January, Opera has now launched a version of its cryptocurrency-focused browser on iOS.
For those unfamiliar, the company’s new browser is based around cryptocurrency and will provide users with an easier way to browse decentralized apps (dApps), games and metaverse platforms for a more seamless cross-platform experience.
Opera’s Crypto Browser Project also features a news and data aggregator named “Crypto Corner”, a bespoke start page with live crypto information and updates, crypto asset prices and gas fees as well as crypto events, airdrops and even podcasts.
While Web3 is gaining momentum on the developer side with 34k developers joining the space in 2021 alone, the Web3-experience for users is still far from intuitive and is not optimized for iPhone users.
For these reasons, Opera has decided to add support for iOS to its Crypto Browser which is a dedicated Web3 browser with a built-in non-custodial crypto wallet.
Opera Crypto Browser on iOS
In addition to giving users access to Web3 and dApps, Opera’s Crypto Browser on iOS also includes cryptocurrency mining protection that can block any ‘cryptojacking’ scripts that could compromise a user’s iPhone and decrease its performance.
The browser on iOS even features the ability to restore any Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible crypto wallet with the native Opera Wallet so that users can integrate their existing assets and balances into their Crypto Browser setup.
At the same time, Opera’s Crypto Browser is designed to address crypto’s growing pains with support for more efficient and environmentally-friendly PoS and Layer 2 chains which enable cheaper transactions and consume far less energy than Proof-of-Work (PoW) Blockchains. As such, the company has partnered with Polygon and will be integrating more PoS chains in its browser going forward.
EVP of mobile at Opera, Joregne Arnesen provided further insight in a press release on how the company’s Crypto Browser makes Web3 more accessible for users, saying:
“The interest in Web3 is continuing to grow. The Opera Crypto Browser Project was built to simplify the Web3 user experience that has often been bewildering for mainstream users. Opera believes Web3 has to be easy to use in order to reach its full potential and a mass adoption.”
iOS users interested in cryptocurrency or checking out Web3 and dApps for themselves can now download Opera’s Crypto Browser from Apple’s App Store.
Cryptocurrency is a field that’s only grown since its inception, and Opera wants in. The company is making headway by developing another variant of its web browser: the Crypto Browser Project.
This app enables users to store their crypto wallets within the new browser. Users can also follow and manage different types of electronic coin, as well as the controversial NFT content that’s being offered by various companies. These capabilities are all grouped into what’s called Web3, a collection of activities that some predict will be heavily used across the web in the coming years.
Opera is breaking into new frontiers, creating specialized browsers like the gaming-focused GX. The Crypto Browser Project is Opera’s attempt to target users that have a crypto wallet.
TechRadar spoke with Jan Standal, VP of Product Marketing at Opera, to understand the need for a cryptocurrency-focused web browser.
The crypto-elephant in the room
If you’ve used an Opera product before, the Crypto browser will feel familiar to you. The layout is similar, but with a blue and green color scheme.
We asked Standal what Opera’s browser could offer to the crypto market:
“Browsers have always provided a trusted gateway through which consumers experience and engage with the internet – and all the new digital trends and technologies on it,” Standal explains. “With the Crypto Browser Project, we set out to build the first truly custom experience for people who want to experience blockchain and Web3 technologies, channeling almost three decades of experience we have in creating user-friendly browsers.
“Our Crypto Browser lowers the barriers to entry to the Web3 world by providing our users with easy access to blockchain news and tutorials, seamless browsing of Web3 Services and apps, and our trusted non-custodial wallet built directly into the browser.”
Why go all-in with a browser, rather than a plugin?
We wondered why the aim was a browser from Opera focusing on cryptocurrency, rather than a browser extension.
“By controlling the browser, we are able to solve experiences that can’t be solved with just extensions. Take, for example, the secure clipboard feature in the Crypto Browser beta: it protects your wallet address from being manipulated by other apps. Solving such cases makes Opera the most secure option for cryptocurrency and Web3 enthusiasts – something that wouldn't be possible to do with traditional browsers.
“While the shift to Web3 is underway, most of the apps are being created by small software companies, and we hope they can benefit from our technologies, experience, and user base.”
Since cryptocurrency is still in its infancy, we asked Standal how the browser could cater to different types of crypto.
“Partnerships are a priority for Opera – we are pursuing an inclusive multi-chain strategy. By creating a solution respectful of all ecosystems, and encouraging the development of common standards and practices amongst developer communities, we hope to help this incredible and diverse new field of creators achieve the fullest potential for their technologies.”
(Image credit: Future)
We pressed Standal on Opera’s decision to create a separate browser that focuses on cryptocurrency rather than incorporating crypto features into Opera or Opera GX.
“With the Crypto Browser Project, we are trying an all-in approach, providing people with a specific experience they need in order to interact with Web3,” Standal explains. “As the technologies of Web3 become more advanced, we will see a strong divergence in the way the browser will interact with the world – and it was important that we prepared for that.
“We believe that if you’re interested in cryptocurrencies, blockchain technologies, even funny coins, you should have a dedicated space for that. If you’re starting and simply want to understand the space better, the Crypto Browser Project will be the perfect starting point.”
Standal continued: “With Opera GX, we learned the power of community, and how we could craft a browser built just for the needs of our awesome gaming users. With the Crypto Browser project, we are showing the same care and attention to the crypto community focused on safe, easy, and intuitive access to crypto services and tools in a way even a novice can understand.”
Feeling safe with crypto
There’s still the ongoing issue of security and authenticity when it comes to bitcoins. There’s also this persistent idea that crypto goes hand in hand with gambling, especially considering Bitcoin’s rise and fall in value is always making news. We asked Standal what steps Opera has taken with this browser to keep users safe.
“While it's true that crypto is not for everyone yet, we see that millions of our browser users are already onboarding to crypto and Web3 is happening. We strongly believe that it's better for serious companies to participate in the space, help the users and shape the industry rather than avoid it,” Standal explains. “Helping our users avoid scams is a natural part of this. The Crypto Browser provides you with the Crypto Corner, which is a source of tutorials, access to influential publications, and key information about the space. There’s also a whole set of security and privacy features such as the built-in VPN, ad blocker, the secure clipboard, and others.”
NFT
Another side to cryptocurrency is the NFT, or Non-fungible Token. These are digital assets, like images or videos, that are allegedly uniquely yours. Opera’s crypto browser will allow you to use your wallet to purchase these. We wanted to know where the company stood on this process.
“Those steps are outlined on NFT platforms,” Standal clarifies. “From our side, we make sure no one meddles with your wallet address by providing you with a built-in wallet and a secure clipboard to copy and paste your wallet address and other sensitive data.”
(Image credit: Opera)
The company also announced in a blog post that the crypto browser is in development for Apple devices, and will be submitted to the App Store. But with features allowing users to manage their crypto wallet within a web browser, we asked Standal if Apple’s most likely response will be to reject the app, especially if there's explicit ways to buy and sell crypto.
“The Opera browser for iOS already comes with an array of crypto features. The Crypto Browser Project isn’t that different in terms of features; rather [it] builds them into a unified experience,” Standal continues. “It’s your entry point into Web3, with its apps and other solutions – as well as providing information about blockchain technologies. And [it’s] a safe and trusted source for where to explore next.”
Analysis: is this web browser a sign of things to come?
It was surprising to see Opera announce a web browser solely focused on cryptocurrency. Considering some of the negative connotations of the field, it’s currently a slippery slope for any company to include any features that involve crypto and NFT content.
But Opera has gone all-in with this venture by presenting an entirely new browser, as opposed to a feature or a browser extension. While Standal maintains that the Opera Crypto Browser can guide users in crypto wallet management, while helping them to keep track of any other trend within the world of electronic currencies, users might do well to use dedicated apps instead.
Companies like Coinbase offer apps that give you a direct overview of your wallet, and only your wallet. Having a web browser that lets you watch YouTube videos, while allowing you to keep track of Bitcoin, may be too much for most users.
Time will tell if other browsers, such as Firefox and Microsoft Edge among others, will introduce features focused on cryptocurrency. We’d be surprised if any other company went the extra mile and created a whole crypto-browser, in the same way that Opera has.
Crypto could still be a fad that ends, a story that’s remembered at the end of the decade in some Netflix documentary. But then again, if companies don’t push some boundaries, we’ll know how far technology can go – or how convenient new ideas might be for us.
In addition to its existing browser, Opera has unveiled a new Web3 browser which is now in beta on Windows, Mac and Android as part of its “Crypto Browser Project”.
The company's new browser is based around cryptocurrency and will provide users with an easier way to browse decentralized apps, games and metaverse platforms for a more seamless cross-platform experience.
Opera's Web3 browser also comes equipped with a news and data aggregator called “Crypto Corner” that will include key information on crypto news, crypto asset prices and gas fees as well as on crypto events, airdrops and even podcasts. Just like with Opera browser, the company's new browser will include a no-long VPN as well as a native ad and tracker blocker for additional privacy and security.
EVP of mobile at Opera, Jorgen Arnesen explained in a press release that the company created its new Crypto Browser Project to give users a simplified Web3 experience, saying:
“The interest in Web3 continues to grow but none of the existing web browsing experiences offered today are built to create a seamless and secure user experience in the decentralized web. Opera's Crypto Browser Project promises a simpler, faster, more private Web3 experience for users. It simplifies a Web3 user experience that is often bewildering for mainstream users. Opera believes Web3 has to be easy to use for the decentralized web to reach its full potential.”
Built-in crypto wallet
Opera's new browser aims to making using the blockchain-based web as simple as accessing Web2 with direct access to decentralized exchanges, Web3-based NFTs and gaming decentralized apps. There is also integrated support for Twitter and Telegram which can both be accessed directly from the browser's sidebar.
What would a crypto-focused browser be without a dedicated crypto wallet? Fortunately, the browser will feature a built-in non-custodial wallet that will initially support Ethereum in beta. However, Opera plans to extend interoperability across all of the major networks and naming systems through partnerships with Polygon, Solana, Nervos, Celo, Unstoppable Domains, Handshake ENS with more to be announced in the future.
The browser's wallet supports both fungible ERC-20 standards as well as non-fungible standards including ERC-721 tokens with ERC-115 support coming in the first quarter of this year. Users will also be able to purchase cryptocurrency via a built-in fiat-to-crypto on-ramp as well as facilitate direct crypto-to-crypto swaps.
Opera's new browser is now in beta to get feedback from the crypto community and interested users can download it here.
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