Opera has launched a new fintech called Dify in Spain today. The product is in beta right now but it will graduate from this status and make its way to other countries in due course. With Dify, users will get a virtual debit card issued by Mastercard which can be used to buy items from firms including Nike, Asos, and eDreams. Partners will offer cashback on purchases and the virtual debit card can be used with Google Pay too.
When customers use the Opera browser to shop on partner websites, they will receive cashback. To receive even more cashback, customers will be encouraged to pay for goods using their Dify cards which can be managed with the Dify Wallet app. Opera will introduce a shopping mode in its browsers that disables third-party extensions to boost user privacy.
Commenting on the news, EVP Browsers & EEA Fintech at Opera, Krystian Kolondra said:
“Every day millions of people shop online and make their payments using the Opera browsers. Opera has a track record of growing audiences and then improving their experiences to make them more engaging. We think this is one of the highest-potential areas: With Dify, we are making the browser and a superior wallet work better, together, to improve users’ shopping experience and also make it financially rewarding.”
While cashback is the first service that Dify will enable, the firm plans to expand its services by introducing savings management, credit, investment opportunities and instant cashback. Its move into financial services is a little bit unusual for a browser maker but it will provide the company with additional income.
Opera has been positioning itself for this launch for more than a year. In January 2020, Opera acquired the Estonian banking-as-a-service start-up Pocosys. In July 2020, it announced an investment in Fjord Bank and an agreement to acquire it. Then in September, it joined the Emerging Payments Association EU.
Despite its small marketshare, Opera does have 50 million monthly active users in Europe that it will look to get using Dify. If you’re in Spain and want to use Dify, or simply want to learn more, head on over to getdify.com.