MiniPay Cuts Global Payment Barriers for 60+ Countries with Stablecoin Innovation

MiniPay, a non-custodial stablecoin wallet developed by Opera, has launched virtual USD and EUR accounts to streamline cross-border payments for freelancers, creators, and remote workers. The feature, powered by Noah's financial infrastructure, allows users to receive ACH and SEPA transfers directly into their MiniPay wallets as USDT or USDC stablecoins, which can then be withdrawn to local currencies via mobile money, bank transfers, or other regional payment methods. This eliminates the need for traditional bank accounts in the U.S. or EU, reduces fees, and accelerates settlement times, addressing pain points like high cross-border costs and delayed transfers.

The virtual accounts operate through a partnership with Noah, which provides the regulatory-compliant infrastructure to issue virtual bank details. Users generate USD or EUR account information within the MiniPay app, share it with clients or platforms like Upwork and Amazon, and receive payments automatically converted into stablecoins. These funds can be used to pay bills, top up airtime, or withdrawn to local currencies in over 60 countries. For example, a freelancer in Nigeria can receive a USD payment from a U.S. client, hold it as stablecoins in MiniPay, and withdraw it as Naira via mobile money platforms like M-Pesa or GCash.

The service targets growing freelance markets in Africa, Latin America, and South Asia, where cross-border digital work is expanding rapidly. Africa's freelance tech sector alone is projected to grow from $7.3 billion in 2024 to $37.7 billion by 2034, while Latin America's freelance platforms market is expected to triple by 2030. MiniPay's zero-deposit-fee model and sub-cent transaction costs (typically $0.001) contrast sharply with traditional remittance fees, which average 6.49% globally. By avoiding intermediaries like correspondent banks, the platform reduces settlement times from days to minutes.

The integration aligns with broader trends in stablecoin adoption for cross-border payments. Visa and Mastercard have also piloted stablecoin solutions in 2025, and global stablecoin volumes now exceed $35 trillion annually. For MiniPay, the feature builds on its existing success: the app has activated 10 million wallets and processed 271 million transactions since its 2023 launch. Over 87% of its transactions are under $5, a segment where traditional systems often struggle with cost and speed.

Quotes from executives underscore the platform's mission. "People want to get paid like a local-without the maze of cross-border fees and delays," said Murray Spark, Head of Commercial at MiniPay. Shah Ramezani, CEO of Noah, added, "Money shouldn't live on separate rails. By powering real-time interoperability between bank networks and digital assets, this partnership removes that divide". The collaboration also reflects regulatory progress, with frameworks like the U.S. GENIUS Act and Europe's MiCA requiring stablecoin issuers to hold 1:1 reserves.

Access to the virtual accounts is currently rolling out to MiniPay's waitlist users in batches, with full global expansion planned. The feature supports 33 Mini Apps for local commerce, including utility bill payments and micro-transactions. As stablecoins gain traction, MiniPay's model positions it to bridge the gap between traditional finance and blockchain-based solutions, particularly in regions with limited banking access.

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[2] MiniPay launches stablecoin-backed USD & EUR accounts to ... (https://press.opera.com/2025/10/08/minipay-launches-stablecoin-backed-usd-eur-accounts/)

[3] MiniPay Woos Freelancers with Stablecoin-Backed Virtual Dollar, Euro Accounts (https://decrypt.co/343575/minipay-woos-freelancers-with-stablecoin-backed-virtual-dollar-euro-accounts)

[4] MiniPay and Noah debut seamless global-to-local ... (https://press.opera.com/2025/07/02/minipay-noah-debut-global-local-stablecoin-payments-ethcc-cannes/)

[5] Stablecoins in Cross-Border Payments: 2025 Benefits & Risks (https://www.opendue.com/blog/stablecoins-in-cross-border-payments-benefits-risks-and-2025-trends)

[6] Redefining Payments in Africa: A 2025 Outlook | Conduit Blog (https://conduitpay.com/blog/redefining-payments-in-africa-a-2025-outlook)

[7] MiniPay and Noah Partner to Boost Global Payouts for Freelancers (https://www.pymnts.com/cryptocurrency/2025/minipay-and-noah-partner-to-facilitate-global-payouts-for-freelancers/)

[8] Visa Launches Stablecoin Pilot to Revolutionize Cross-Border Pay... (https://techafricanews.com/2025/09/30/visa-launches-stablecoin-pilot-to-revolutionize-cross-border-payments/)

[9] The state of stablecoins in cross-border payments: The 2025 industry primer (https://www.fxcintel.com/research/reports/ct-state-of-stablecoins-cross-border-payments-2025)

[10] MiniPay turns two with 10 million wallets and 270 million ... (https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=600-202509160900PR_NEWS_USPRX____LA74686-1)

[11] Opera's Celo-Based MiniPay Wallet Launches Global-to ... (https://cryptonews.com/news/operas-celo-based-minipay-wallet-launches-global-to-local-stablecoin-payments-with-noah/)