MiniPay
MiniPay is a non-custodial stablecoin wallet on the Celo blockchain serving 15M+ users across 65+ emerging markets with sub-cent transfers, a Visa debit card, and virtual USD/EUR accounts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- Headquarters—
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What MiniPay does
MiniPay is a non-custodial stablecoin wallet built on the Celo blockchain, operated by Blueboard Limited (Ireland) as a subsidiary of Opera Group and launched in September 2023. The product enables phone-number-based peer-to-peer transfers of USDT, USDC, and cUSD stablecoins with sub-cent fees and 5-second settlement, alongside a drag-and-swap feature (Pockets, powered by Mento), shareable Cash Links, a yield feature (MiniPay Boost, up to 2% weekly), and an embedded Mini Apps developer platform. The wallet serves unbanked and underbanked consumers, freelancers, and digital creators across 65+ countries, with primary density in Africa and Southeast Asia and active expansion into Latin America via PIX and Mercado Pago integrations.
The product surface has expanded from a pure transfer wallet into a broader financial app: a Visa-branded debit card (MiniPay Card) issued by Monavate and operated by Gnosis Pay extends stablecoin balances to 175M+ merchants with up to 5% cashback and Apple Pay/Google Pay support; virtual USD/EUR accounts via Noah enable inbound SEPA/ACH payments for freelancers and creators; and the Mini Apps Platform hosts third-party Web3 apps natively inside the wallet. To date, MiniPay reports 15-16M+ activated wallets and 430M+ transactions on Celo, with $153M processed in December 2024 alone and 7M phone-verified USDT wallets as of February 2026.
Commercially, MiniPay runs a freemium model: most wallet transactions are gasless to the end user, with revenue sourced from card interchange (via Visa), revenue-share with on/off-ramp providers (Transak, Noah), and prospective yield spread on Boost balances. Distribution is anchored in Opera Mini's 320M+ monthly active users, supplemented by Google Play, iOS TestFlight, and referral campaigns. The company is venture-backed through a $40M ecosystem fund launched by Verda Ventures in partnership with Opera, with participation from Jump Crypto, Borderless Capital, and Richard Parsons; the fund targets fintech startups building on MiniPay infrastructure for financial inclusion in emerging markets.
MiniPay firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MiniPay
- Legal name
- Blueboard Limited
- Website
- https://minipay.to
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- MiniPay is a non-custodial stablecoin wallet on the Celo blockchain serving 15M+ users across 65+ emerging markets with sub-cent transfers, a Visa debit card, and virtual USD/EUR accounts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MiniPay industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Stablecoin Wallet
- NAICS
- Credit Card Issuing (52221)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Crypto Payments & Stablecoin Settlement Platforms (BPAMAFAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Stablecoins & On-Chain Money (fiat-backed, crypto-backed, algorithmic; issuance/redemption) (FSAPAEAB), Virtual Card & Tokenization Schemes (FSAMAAAG), Virtual Prepaid & Single-Use / Tokenized Cards (FSAMANAJ), Micropayments & Streaming Payments (Crypto) (FSADAIAM)
Keywords
MiniPay business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Transaction Fees: Network transaction fees of less than $0.01 per transaction on Celo blockchain
- Card Cashback Program: Cashback rewards program where users earn up to 5% on purchases, funded by interchange fees from Visa network
- Third-Party Provider Revenue Share: Revenue from on-ramp and off-ramp providers (Transak, Noah) who facilitate fiat-to-stablecoin conversions
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free wallet with minimal transaction costs |
| Freemium | Monthly | MiniPay Card with up to 5% cashback |
| Freemium | Weekly | Hold & Earn (MiniPay Boost) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
MiniPay product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MiniPay is a non-custodial stablecoin wallet built on the Celo blockchain that lets users send, receive, swap, and spend dollar-pegged stablecoins (USDT, USDC, cUSD) globally using only a phone number. It supplements the core wallet with a Visa debit card for real-world merchant spending, virtual USD/EUR accounts for receiving international payments, and an embedded Mini Apps platform for third-party financial services. The product targets unbanked and underbanked users in emerging markets with sub-cent transaction fees and 5-second settlement times.
Product overview
MiniPay is a unified non-custodial stablecoin wallet platform built on the Celo blockchain, operated by Blueboard Limited and launched by Opera. The core product is the MiniPay Wallet, which enables peer-to-peer stablecoin transfers via phone numbers with sub-cent fees and 5-second settlement. The ecosystem extends through several integrated modules: the MiniPay Card (Visa debit card for global merchant spending with up to 5% cashback), Virtual USD & EUR Accounts (for freelancer international payments via Noah), Cash Links (shareable payment links), Pockets (drag-and-drop stablecoin swapping via Mento), MiniPay Boost (up to 2% weekly yield on USDT holdings), and the Mini Apps Platform (third-party Web3 applications embedded in the wallet). The platform targets emerging markets across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia with over 15 million activated wallets across 65+ countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MiniPay Wallet Non-custodial dollar stablecoin wallet built on the Celo blockchain enabling users to send, receive, swap, and spend USDT, USDC, and cUSD stablecoins globally via phone numbers with sub-cent transaction fees and 5-second settlement times.
- MiniPay Card Digital Visa debit card enabling MiniPay users to spend stablecoin balances at over 175 million merchants worldwide, with Apple Pay and Google Pay support, up to 5% cashback in Tether Gold and stablecoins, and no monthly or annual fees.
- Virtual USD & EUR Accounts
Quantifiable outcome
- 16M+ activated wallets across 65+ countries
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use MiniPay
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
MiniPay technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration29 records
Feature5 records
MiniPay partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.
- VisacoreVisa serves as the card network for MiniPay Card, enabling stablecoin spending at 175M+ merchants worldwide. The partnership allows MiniPay users to spend stablecoins at any merchant accepting Visa without requiring crypto infrastructure.
- MonavatecoreMonavate is the regulated card issuing platform that issues the MiniPay Visa debit card. Monavate Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, and UAB Monavate is regulated by the Bank of Lithuania.
- Gnosis PaycoreGnosis Pay is the technical operator of the MiniPay Card infrastructure, acting as programme manager for the card programme on behalf of Monavate.
- TethercoreTether expanded USDT and Tether Gold (XAUT) support in MiniPay wallet to enhance financial access in emerging markets. The partnership enables dollar-denominated transactions and savings for millions of users in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
- Global Settlement Holdings Inc.strategicGlobal Settlement Holdings partnered with Ubuntu Tribe to bring over $5 billion worth of gold on-chain, expanding across African markets and the European Union to reduce cross-border payment costs and settlement times.
- Mercado PagostrategicMiniPay supports PIX and Mercado Pago in Latin America enabling seamless, instant stablecoin-to-real-money transactions in Brazil and Argentina.
- PIXstrategicBrazil's instant payment system integrated with MiniPay for real-time stablecoin-to-local-currency transactions.
- TransakcoreTransak provides white-label stablecoin payment infrastructure via API, enabling fiat-to-stablecoin and stablecoin-to-fiat conversions with KYC/AML compliance across 64+ countries. MiniPay achieved 10x transaction volume growth and 59% repeat user rate using Transak.
- NoahcoreNoah provides virtual USD and EUR account details that function like local bank accounts for receiving SEPA and ACH payments. Payments land in MiniPay as USDT/USDC stablecoins ready to spend or withdraw.
- MentocoreMento powers the Pockets (drag and swap) feature enabling instant stablecoin swapping between USDC, USDT, and cUSD.
- Celo FoundationcoreCelo Foundation provides technical expertise and blockchain infrastructure. MiniPay is built on the Celo blockchain which enables sub-cent fees and fast transaction finality.
- OperacoreOpera launched MiniPay in 2023 and provides browser distribution through Opera Mini with 320+ million monthly active users. Blueboard Limited, an Opera affiliate, offers the MiniPay services.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MiniPay competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Coinbase Wallet: Coinbase Wallet is the self-custodial companion to the Coinbase exchange, offering stablecoin storage, swaps, and dApp browsing. It is a broad incumbent in the non-custodial wallet space, comparable to MiniPay in product functionality though not in emerging-market focus.
- Crypto.com: Crypto.com operates a non-custodial wallet, exchange, and a Visa card program with cashback. It is a broad incumbent that overlaps with MiniPay's wallet + Visa card + cashback offering at much larger scale.
Direct peers
- Phantom: Phantom is a non-custodial crypto wallet originally built on Solana that has expanded multi-chain. Comparable to MiniPay as a polished mobile-first self-custody wallet with a built-in dApp/Mini App-style ecosystem, though it targets a different chain.
- Chipper Cash: Chipper Cash is a mobile cross-border payments app focused on African and emerging markets, offering P2P transfers and merchant payments. It is a direct competitor in MiniPay's core African corridors, though it operates a fiat rather than stablecoin model.
- Trust Wallet: Trust Wallet is a leading non-custodial multi-chain crypto wallet owned by Binance with broad stablecoin support and a built-in dApp browser. It is directly comparable to MiniPay as a mobile-first, self-custodial wallet competing for global crypto users, though it lacks MiniPay's emerging-market distribution focus.
- BitPay: BitPay offers a non-custodial crypto wallet paired with a Visa/Mastercard prepaid card for spending crypto at merchants. Comparable to MiniPay on the stablecoin-wallet-plus-card proposition for global spending.
- MetaMask: MetaMask is the largest self-custodial crypto wallet by users, with multi-chain support and a strong developer ecosystem. Comparable to MiniPay on the self-custody and Web3 dApp dimensions, though it serves a more crypto-native, developed-market audience.
- Valora: Valora is another non-custodial mobile wallet built on the Celo blockchain, targeting the same global mobile-first user base. It is the most directly comparable peer as both share the Celo rails, stablecoin focus, and emerging-market remittance use cases.
- Wirex: Wirex is a crypto wallet paired with a Visa debit card that lets users spend crypto and stablecoins at mainstream merchants. It is a direct functional peer to MiniPay Card and the broader MiniPay wallet-plus-card proposition.
Regional players
- M-Pesa (Vodafone / Safaricom): M-Pesa is the dominant African mobile money platform with deep agent networks and merchant acceptance in Kenya and other markets where MiniPay is growing. It is the primary regional incumbent MiniPay must disintermediate or partner with via the Shop & Pay Mini App.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MiniPay social profiles
Digital presenceMiniPay financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MiniPay leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
MiniPay funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MiniPay M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MiniPay
What does MiniPay do?
MiniPay is a non-custodial stablecoin wallet built on the Celo blockchain that lets users send, receive, swap, and spend dollar-pegged stablecoins (USDT, USDC, cUSD) globally using only a phone number. It supplements the core wallet with a Visa debit card for real-world merchant spending, virtual USD/EUR accounts for receiving international payments, and an embedded Mini Apps platform for third-party financial services. The product targets unbanked and underbanked users in emerging markets with sub-cent transaction fees and 5-second settlement times.
Is MiniPay a public or private company?
MiniPay is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was MiniPay founded?
MiniPay was founded in 2023.
How does MiniPay make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Transaction Fees are the primary driver. The others are card Cashback Program and third-Party Provider Revenue Share.
Who are MiniPay's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Coinbase Wallet and Crypto.com. Direct peers are Phantom, Chipper Cash, Trust Wallet, BitPay, MetaMask, Valora and Wirex. M-Pesa (Vodafone / Safaricom) is listed as a regional player.
Does MiniPay have an API?
Yes. MiniPay offers a developer platform for third-party Mini Apps with a submission portal at developer.minipay.to/mini-app-listing. The platform enables developers to build Web3 applications that run natively inside the MiniPay wallet, targeting over 11 million active users. Mini Apps cover categories including Ramp (on/off ramps), Technical, and general utility apps. The platform provides built-in cash in/out functionality across 60+ countries and contextual discovery via the in-app Explore section. Developer documentation is at docs.minipay.xyz.
What industry is MiniPay in?
MiniPay's product category is Stablecoin Wallet. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAFAL, Crypto Payments & Stablecoin Settlement Platforms, with a secondary code of FSAPAEAB, Stablecoins & On-Chain Money (fiat-backed, crypto-backed, algorithmic; issuance/redemption). Its NAICS code is 52221 and its SIC code is 6199.