Tether and Opera updated MiniPay on February 2, 2026, adding support for USDT and a bridged version of Tether Gold, XAU₮0, within the Celo-based mobile wallet. The rollout positions MiniPay as a streamlined gateway to dollar-backed and gold-linked on-chain value for a large retail user base, while broadening fiat on- and off-ramp coverage via partner rails.
MiniPay now enables users to send, receive, and hold USDT and XAU₮0 on the Celo blockchain, with the announcement emphasizing scale metrics cited as of Q4 2025. The companies framed the integration around MiniPay’s reported 12.6 million activated wallets and 350 million processed transactions, alongside an estimated 3.64 million on-chain users on Celo and 50% quarterly growth in on-chain users.
What XAU₮0 represents and why the structure matters
The release stresses that XAU₮0 is a bridged representation of Tether Gold rather than a direct issuance by Tether. That distinction signals an interoperability-led integration and puts the spotlight on bridge mechanics, rather than implying a new native token mint.
Opera and MiniPay also described a practical set of fiat corridors built through partnerships with providers including Fonbank, Partna, Daimo, and Cashramp, plus larger exchanges such as Binance and Bybit. According to the announcement, these rails supported more than $49 million added in cash to MiniPay wallets and roughly $153 million in total value moved through the wallet.
The market reaction was presented as immediate, with the statement noting Opera shares rose about 18% after the news. The release uses that move as a near-term indicator of investor attention around distribution, payments reach, and wallet-led stablecoin access.
Alongside the wallet update, the text ties XAU₮0’s narrative to Tether’s physical gold positioning, described as roughly 1–2 tonnes accumulated weekly and an aggregate cited at about 140 tonnes valued near $24 billion. In that framing, the companies present XAU₮0 as aligned with expanding bullion reserves and point to a sharp rise in gold prices in 2025 as additional context.
Strategic takeaways for liquidity, risk, and monitoring
From a distribution lens, the partner network is positioned as a direct path from local fiat into USDT and XAU₮0 across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. The stated objective is to convert localized cash access into on-chain liquidity, using MiniPay as the front-end for stablecoin and gold-linked exposure.
On the product side, the message is straightforward: USDT is pitched as a dollar-stability option while XAU₮0 is pitched as a gold-linked alternative, both accessible in one wallet. The integration effectively packages two “store-of-value” tracks into the same mobile user experience, anchored to Celo settlement.
At the same time, the text flags structural considerations around XAU₮0 because it is bridged rather than natively issued. Treasuries and desks are implicitly advised to account for bridge and custodial dynamics when sizing exposure to on-chain gold representations.
Finally, the reported $49 million in cash added and $153 million in moved value are positioned as early datapoints for monitoring/compiler. If MiniPay continues scaling, the key watch items become on-chain flows, partner on-ramp throughput, and any operational updates from Celo or wallet providers that could influence settlement speed, fees, and custody risk.