Brave vs. Opera: What should a Web3 browser look like?
Why crypto browsers matter and what their future holds
In the world of crypto-focused browsers, two clear leaders have emerged—Brave and Opera. Both are competing to dominate this niche, but the question remains: how well do they fit into the Web3 landscape?
Recently, Brave made headlines by launching a major update, adding native support for Cardano in its built-in and standalone crypto wallets. This allows users to manage their tokens directly and participate in ecosystem governance.
Loading...
According to Brave CEO Brendan Eich, this integration aims to make interacting with decentralized services even easier and more secure without limiting user control. He emphasized that the update strengthens multi-chain access while maintaining privacy and choice.
Brave already supports Ethereum and Solana, and the addition of Cardano further expands its network governance features. Future plans include launching privacy-preserving computation tools and cross-chain swaps.
The origins of Brave browser
Brave was launched in 2016 as a response to growing user frustration with intrusive ads and online tracking. Its founder, Brendan Eich—best known for creating JavaScript and co-founding Mozilla—set out to build a browser that blocks ads and trackers by default, offering a safer and faster browsing experience.
But Brave didn’t stop there. It introduced an entirely new approach to online advertising and monetization through the Basic Attention Token (BAT). Users can choose whether to view privacy-respecting ads and earn BAT tokens as a reward.
In addition to its privacy features, Brave integrated a native crypto wallet and became one of the first browsers to support Web3 and dApps. This move was well-received by users.
Loading...
Today, Brave boasts millions of users worldwide, partnerships with leading blockchain projects, and a successful crypto ecosystem. The browser has won numerous awards for security and innovation and continues to evolve as a multi-chain platform, allowing users to manage crypto assets and participate in decentralized networks directly from the browser.
A Serious competitor emerges
For years, Brave dominated the crypto browser space, while many competing projects failed to gain traction or were shut down prematurely. That changed in January 2022, when Opera launched the beta version of its Crypto Browser.
Loading...
Opera had been eyeing the Web3 space since 2018, starting with the addition of a crypto wallet to its Android mobile app. After several years of development, the company released a dedicated browser designed specifically for decentralized web interactions.
Unlike traditional browsers, Opera’s Crypto Browser provided built-in access to crypto news, token airdrops, event calendars, educational content, and market analytics. It also featured a wallet for managing popular digital assets directly within the browser.
However, in February 2024, Opera announced the end of support for its standalone Crypto Browser, encouraging users to switch to its main Opera browser, which now includes all the same Web3 features. This includes the Opera Wallet, supporting Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and other blockchain networks.
Rather than abandoning Web3, Opera chose to integrate crypto functionalities directly into its mainstream products.
Shifting toward AI integration
In recent years, riding the wave of AI’s popularity with tools like ChatGPT, crypto browsers have begun integrating artificial intelligence as well.
Opera introduced Aria, a built-in AI assistant powered by OpenAI and Google models. Aria helps users search for information, generate content, translate text, and create articles, all while adapting to the user’s writing style.
Brave also launched Leo, its own AI assistant. Leo assists with summarizing web content, drafting articles, and even writing code. What sets Leo apart is its strong privacy-first approach—all user interactions are processed without storing data, and users can switch between various AI models for flexibility.
Opera focuses on expanding functionality and integrating with leading AI platforms, positioning Aria as a full-featured productivity tool. Brave, on the other hand, prioritizes maximum privacy and user data protection.
Navigators of the Web3 world
Brave and Opera have demonstrated that browsers are no longer just tools for accessing websites. They have become gateways to the Web3 ecosystem, enabling users to manage digital assets, interact with decentralized applications, and participate in blockchain governance directly from the browser.
Crypto browsers emerged to meet the needs of users seeking tools for blockchain interaction, token management, decentralized services, and secure payments. Both Brave and Opera show how Web2 and Web3 can be unified in a single interface, complete with built-in wallets, multi-chain support, and crypto economy tools.
Today, these browsers go beyond basic crypto functionality by integrating artificial intelligence to help users search, create, and work more efficiently. In the end, crypto browsers are evolving into universal platforms for the Web3 user, offering convenient and secure access to decentralized technologies and the emerging digital economy.
