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Norwegian-founded global software company best known for its Opera web browsers and expanding portfolio of browser-based AI, gaming, advertising, content, payments, and Web3 services.

Last updated November 4, 2026

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Overview

Opera is a multinational software company headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and historically rooted in the development of web browsers. Founded in 1995 by Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner and Geir Ivarsøy after the pair began browser development at Norwegian telecommunications company Telenor, Opera became one of the earliest independent browser companies to remain active into the modern era. Its first public browser release, Opera 2.10 for Windows, appeared in 1996, followed by early mobile-browser work beginning in 1998. The Opera brand has traditionally been associated with browser innovation rather than dominant market share. Over the years, Opera introduced or popularized features including tabbed browsing, mouse gestures, integrated search, session management, data compression, built-in advertising controls, battery-saving tools, and browser-based privacy functions. Opera Mini, launched in 2005, was particularly important in markets where mobile bandwidth and device capability were constrained. Its server-side compression technology enabled faster and less data-intensive browsing on basic mobile phones and helped the company build a substantial user base in emerging markets. Opera’s business model and corporate structure have changed repeatedly. The original browser business was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange in 2004. In 2016, the consumer browser, privacy applications, and Opera brand were sold to Golden Brick Capital, a consortium associated with Chinese technology investors including Kunlun Tech and Qihoo 360. The remaining assets of the former Opera Software ASA were renamed Otello Corporation. The consumer business was subsequently reorganized as Opera Limited and returned to public markets through a Nasdaq IPO in July 2018, raising more than $115 million. Under its current ownership, Opera has broadened beyond conventional desktop and mobile browsers. Its portfolio includes the standard Opera browser for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS; Opera Mini for data-efficient mobile browsing; Opera GX, a gaming-focused browser with controls for CPU, memory, and network usage; Opera Air, a browser positioned around focus and wellbeing; and experimental or AI-oriented products such as Opera Neon. The company also operates Opera News content-recommendation products, Opera Ads, gaming portals and development tools through Opera Gaming and GameMaker, and selected e-commerce, payments, cryptocurrency, and Web3 services such as MiniPay. Opera GX has become one of the company’s most visible growth products. It combines the Opera browser engine with gaming-oriented customization, integrations, resource controls, audiovisual design, and community features. GameMaker, acquired through the purchase of YoYo Games in 2021, extended Opera’s gaming strategy from distribution into game creation and developer tooling. Opera News and related content products have focused particularly on mobile users in Africa and other growth markets, while Opera Ads monetizes the company’s browser and content ecosystem. The company has also experimented with financial technology. It acquired Estonian banking-as-a-service company PocoSys and agreed to take over its sister company Pocopay in 2020, launched the Dify cashback and digital-wallet service in Spain in 2021, and developed MiniPay for stablecoin-based payments in emerging markets. Opera previously incubated or held interests in African microlending businesses including OKash and Opesa, but reduced and ultimately exited those holdings after criticism concerning lending terms and debt-collection practices. As of the 2025 annual-report period, Opera describes itself as a global browser and AI-agent company. Lin Song became sole chief executive officer in October 2025 after serving as co-CEO, while James Yahui Zhou continued as executive chairman and remained the company’s controlling shareholder through his association with Kunlun Tech. Opera’s strategic identity is therefore a hybrid one: a br…

History

Opera began in Norway in 1995, when Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner and Geir Ivarsøy developed a browser project while working at Telenor. Their work became an independent business whose first public product, Opera 2.10 for Windows, was released in 1996. From the beginning, the company concentrated on making browser software more capable and efficient than the limited computing and connectivity environments of the time. Mobile browsing became an important part of the strategy as Opera began developing for mobile platforms in 1998. Opera 4.0, released in 2000, introduced a cross-platform browser core that made it easier to produce versions for multiple operating systems and devices. The company also changed its commercial model in 2000. Earlier editions had been trialware, but Opera 5.0 adopted advertising-supported distribution, allowing users to use the browser without purchasing a license. With version 8.5 in 2005, advertising was removed from the browser interface, while search-related revenue, particularly through Google, became an important source of support. Opera became a public company on the Oslo Stock Exchange in March 2004. Its early public-company period coincided with disputes over browser interoperability and competition. Opera argued that Microsoft’s practices around Internet Explorer and Microsoft web services disadvantaged competing browsers. The dispute produced legal and regulatory activity, including a 2007 complaint to the European Commission and the eventual creation of BrowserChoice.eu. In 2004, Opera also disclosed a settlement with an unnamed international corporation widely associated in contemporary reporting with Microsoft, although the company did not publicly identify the counterparty in the cited announcement. The company’s mobile business grew through Opera Mini, introduced in 2005. Initially built on Java ME and marketed partly through mobile operators, Opera Mini used remote processing and compression to make websites more accessible on low-cost phones and slow networks. Partnerships such as the 2012 agreement with Bharti Airtel helped distribute the browser to large mobile audiences. Opera received recognition at the 2015 Mobile World Congress for its Web Pass and Sponsored Web Pass products, which connected mobile browsing with operator billing and sponsored access models. Opera also underwent organizational changes during the 2010s. In 2013, the company abandoned its internally developed Presto rendering engine for the Chromium-based Blink engine. The change enabled greater compatibility with the rapidly consolidating web ecosystem but reduced Opera’s technological independence and was criticized by some observers as a loss for browser-engine diversity. In 2015, the company refreshed its identity, adopting a three-dimensional O symbol and simplifying its public-facing name from Opera Software to Opera. Television-related assets were separated into Opera TV, later Vewd Software. A decisive ownership change occurred in 2016. Golden Brick Capital Private Equity Fund I, a consortium associated with Kunlun Tech and Qihoo 360, acquired Opera’s consumer browser business, privacy and performance applications, and the Opera brand. The transaction separated the consumer brand from the remaining assets of Opera Software ASA, which changed its name to Otello Corporation. The new Opera consumer company introduced experimental products such as Opera Neon in 2017, launched Opera News in 2018, and released Opera Touch as a mobile browser emphasizing one-handed use. Opera returned to the public markets in July 2018 as Opera Limited, listing American depositary shares on Nasdaq under OPRA. The company used the post-IPO period to expand from browsing into content, advertising, gaming, payments, and financial technology. Opera News targeted mobile content discovery, particularly in Africa. Opera Ads was introduced in 2019 as a platform for monetizing the company’s user base. In 2020, Opera acquired PocoSys, an Estonian banking-as-a-service company, and agreed to take over Pocopay. In 2021, it launched Dify, a cashback and digital-wallet product initially tested in Spain. Gaming became another major strategic pillar. Opera launched Opera GX in 2019 as a browser for gamers, with controls over CPU, memory, and bandwidth as well as gaming-oriented customization. In 2021, Opera bought YoYo Games from Playtech and created Opera Gaming, linking the GX browser to GameMaker, a 2D game-development platform. This broadened the brand from a browser publisher into a platform serving both game players and developers. Opera’s fintech expansion also generated controversy. Between 2018 and 2020, businesses associated with Opera’s microlending activities in Africa, including OKash and Opesa, faced allegations of excessive interest rates, aggressive debt collection, debt shaming, and privacy abuses. Opera announced a reduction of its majority ownership in 2020 and sold its remaining stake in 2022. The episode marked a retreat from consumer lending and a greater emphasis on browser-led services, advertising, gaming, payments, and Web3. In the 2020s, Opera increasingly positioned itself as an AI-enabled internet platform. Its product portfolio came to include Opera Air, MiniPay, AI-assisted browsing features, and Opera Neon, described as an agentic browser capable of assisting with web tasks and content workflows. Leadership also evolved: James Yahui Zhou served as CEO from 2016 until October 2025, while Lin Song served as co-CEO from 2020. On October 10, 2025, Song became sole CEO and Zhou became executive chairman. Opera’s 2025 annual report continued to present the company as a global browser and AI-agent business headquartered in Oslo and controlled through its relationship with Kunlun Tech.

  • 2026

    2025 annual report filed

    [3]

    Opera filed its annual report for the year ended December 31, 2025, describing the company as a global browser and AI-agent business.

  • 2025

    Lin Song became sole CEO

    [4]

    Lin Song became CEO on October 10, 2025, while James Yahui Zhou moved to the executive-chairman role.

  • 2022

    Microlending exit completed

    [1]

    Opera sold its remaining stake in the microlending businesses associated with OKash and Opesa.

  • 2021

    YoYo Games acquired

    [1]

    Opera acquired YoYo Games and expanded its gaming strategy around GameMaker and Opera GX.

  • 2021

    Dify launched

    [1]

    Opera launched Dify, an in-browser cashback, payment, and digital-wallet service in Spain.

  • 2020

    PocoSys acquired

    [1]

    Opera entered banking-as-a-service through the acquisition of Estonian fintech company PocoSys.

  • 2019

    Opera GX and Opera Ads introduced

    [1]

    Opera expanded into gaming browsers and advertising technology with the launches of Opera GX and Opera Ads.

  • 2018

    Opera returned to Nasdaq

    [1]

    Opera Limited completed a Nasdaq IPO and began trading under OPRA.

  • 2018

    Opera News launched

    [1]

    Opera introduced an AI-assisted news and content-recommendation product initially focused on African users.

  • 2017

    Opera Neon introduced

    [1]

    Opera launched Neon as an experimental browser exploring alternative interaction and visual-design concepts.

Products and positioning

An innovative, feature-rich browser and internet platform emphasizing speed, customization, privacy tools, integrated AI, gaming, mobile accessibility, and services for emerging markets.

  • Desktop and mobile web browser · 1996

    Opera Browser

    Opera’s main browser product for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It is positioned around speed, customization, privacy-oriented tools, integrated advertising controls, built-in services, and increasingly embedded AI features. The browser uses Chromium-based technology and serves as the central distribution platform for Opera’s broader ecosystem.

  • Mobile web browser · 2005

    Opera Mini

    Opera Mini is a mobile browser designed for efficient browsing on lower-cost devices and slower or more expensive networks. Its historical differentiation came from server-side page processing and compression, which reduced data consumption and improved loading performance. The product has remained important in emerging markets and has also served as a distribution channel for Opera News and other mobile services.

  • Gaming web browser · 2019

    Opera GX

    Opera GX is a gaming-oriented browser launched in 2019. It combines the Chromium-based Opera browsing experience with a highly customizable interface, gaming-related integrations, social and entertainment features, and controls that let users limit CPU, memory, and network usage. GX is a major expression of Opera’s strategy to build a branded community and platform around gamers rather than compete only as a general-purpose browser.

  • Wellbeing-oriented web browser

    Opera Air

    Opera Air is a browser positioned around focus, calm, and digital wellbeing. It extends Opera’s practice of treating the browser as an environment for differentiated experiences rather than merely a neutral window onto the web. Its features are intended to support concentration and more deliberate browsing.

  • Experimental and AI browser · 2017

    Opera Neon

    Opera Neon began as an experimental browser concept introduced in 2017 to explore alternative layouts and interaction patterns. Opera later revived the Neon name for an AI-oriented, agentic browser concept capable of helping users perform web tasks and support content and workflow creation. It represents Opera’s effort to move from browser navigation toward browser-based assistance.

  • Content recommendation and news platform · 2018

    Opera News

    Opera News is a mobile content-recommendation service introduced in 2018, initially with a strong focus on African users. It uses algorithmic and AI-assisted discovery to distribute news and other content through a standalone application and Opera’s mobile ecosystem. The service expands Opera’s relationship with users beyond browsing sessions and creates additional advertising and engagement opportunities.

  • Digital advertising platform · 2019

    Opera Ads

    Opera Ads is the company’s advertising platform for monetizing audiences across Opera’s browsers, content products, and related digital properties. Introduced in 2019, it supports Opera’s shift from relying primarily on search-distribution economics toward owning more of the advertising relationship around its user base.

  • Game-development software

    GameMaker

    GameMaker is a 2D game-development platform acquired by Opera through its purchase of YoYo Games in 2021. It provides tools for creating and publishing games and gives Opera a presence on the developer side of the gaming market. Together with Opera GX and Opera Gaming portals, GameMaker supports a broader gaming ecosystem strategy.

  • Cryptocurrency and Web3 wallet

    MiniPay

    MiniPay is a browser-linked digital wallet and Web3 payment product designed around stablecoin payments and emerging-market use cases. It reflects Opera’s continuing experimentation with cryptocurrency, decentralized applications, and low-friction digital payments integrated into consumer browsing.

  • Mobile data-compression and VPN service

    Opera Max

    Opera Max was a mobile data-compression and VPN-oriented service. Opera discontinued its ownership and sold the product to Samsung in 2018, after which it was rebranded Samsung Max for eligible Galaxy devices.

  • Mobile web browser

    Opera Coast

    Opera Coast was an iOS-focused mobile browser with a touch-oriented interface. It was quietly discontinued and removed from Apple’s App Store in 2017.

Controversies

  • 2020

    Criticism of OKash and Opesa microlending practices

    Businesses associated with Opera’s African microlending activities, including OKash and Opesa, were criticized over alleged predatory lending terms, very high effective interest rates, aggressive debt-collection methods, debt shaming, and misuse or abuse of customer privacy. Opera announced a divestment from majority ownership in 2020 and later sold its remaining interest in 2022.

    Source

  • 2020

    Class action lawsuit over Opera IPO documents

    A class action lawsuit accused Opera Limited of making materially false and misleading statements in its IPO offering documents, including statements about its business, operations and compliance policies. The allegations concern the content of the offering documents rather than any conduct outside them. The source report presents these as claims made in the complaint; it does not state that the allegations were proven or that any court reached a finding on them. The event is recorded here as a controversy note concerning the IPO documents, based solely on the allegations as reported.

    Source

Read more

Marketing campaigns

  • 2020COVID-19 information distribution with APO Group

    Africa

    Opera partnered with APO Group to distribute health and pandemic information from health authorities through Opera Mini and Opera News.

    Outcome. The initiative used Opera’s mobile distribution channels to provide public-health information during the COVID-19 crisis.

    Source
  • 2015Web Pass and Sponsored Web Pass

    Emerging markets

    Opera promoted Web Pass and Sponsored Web Pass as mobile-access products that connected browsing, operator billing, and sponsored data access.

    Outcome. Opera received a Global Mobile Award for Best Mobile Product, Initiative or Service in Emerging Markets at Mobile World Congress in 2015.

    Source
  • 2012Opera Mini and Airtel distribution partnership

    India · Africa · Emerging markets

    Opera and Bharti Airtel agreed to make Opera Mini available to Airtel mobile customers, using operator distribution to expand access to mobile browsing.

    Outcome. The partnership reinforced Opera’s operator-led distribution model for mobile browsers in high-growth markets.

    Source
  • 2004Opera versus Microsoft interoperability campaign

    Worldwide · Europe

    Opera publicly challenged Microsoft over alleged incompatibility between Microsoft web services and non-Internet Explorer browsers. The campaign combined litigation, public criticism, and advocacy for browser interoperability.

    Outcome. The dispute contributed to regulatory attention in Europe and was followed by the creation of BrowserChoice.eu after Opera’s 2007 European Commission complaint.

    Source
  • 2004Bork Edition

    Worldwide

    Opera released a satirical browser modification known as the Bork Edition after alleging that MSN.com displayed incorrectly for Opera users. The edition caused MSN to display a repeated phrase associated with the Swedish Chef character from The Muppet Show.

    Outcome. The stunt attracted attention to Opera’s interoperability claims and became one of the company’s best-known advocacy-oriented publicity actions.

    Source

Brand decisions

  • 2025

    Transition to sole CEO leadershipStrategy

    Background

    Opera had operated with shared CEO responsibilities between James Yahui Zhou and Lin Song since 2020.

    Action taken

    Lin Song became sole CEO on October 10, 2025, while Zhou became executive chairman.

    Aftermath

    The change separated day-to-day executive leadership from the controlling shareholder’s strategic and board role.

    Source

  • 2022

    Exit from microlendingStrategy

    Background

    Opera’s African microlending activities faced public criticism concerning interest rates, collection practices, and customer privacy.

    Action taken

    Opera sold its remaining stake after previously announcing a reduction in majority ownership.

    Aftermath

    The company withdrew from direct microlending exposure and concentrated more heavily on browsers, advertising, gaming, content, payments, AI, and Web3.

    Source

  • 2021

    Acquisition of YoYo GamesM&A

    Background

    Opera wanted to expand Opera GX and create a broader gaming ecosystem that included both players and developers.

    Action taken

    Opera acquired YoYo Games from Playtech and established Opera Gaming around GameMaker and gaming portals.

    Aftermath

    The acquisition extended Opera’s business from browser distribution into game-development tools and gaming-platform services.

    Acquisition price. US$10 million (January 2021)

    Source

  • 2018

    Second public-market listingOther

    Background

    After the 2016 ownership transition, Opera sought capital and public-market access for the reorganized consumer software business.

    Action taken

    Opera Limited listed American depositary shares on Nasdaq under OPRA.

    Aftermath

    The listing restored Opera as an independently traded public company while leaving it under the control of Chinese technology investors associated with Kunlun Tech.

    IPO proceeds. More than US$115 million raised (July 2018 IPO)

    Source

  • 2016

    Sale of the consumer browser business and Opera brandM&A

    Background

    The former Opera Software ASA evaluated strategic alternatives and separated its consumer browser assets from other businesses.

    Action taken

    Golden Brick Capital acquired the browser, privacy and performance applications, and Opera brand. The remaining public company was renamed Otello Corporation.

    Aftermath

    The consumer business became the basis of the current Opera Limited structure and later returned to public markets on Nasdaq.

    Transaction value. US$600 million announced transaction value (2016)

    Source

  • 2013

    Migration from Presto to BlinkGeneration change

    Background

    Opera’s internally developed Presto engine required continuing independent investment as the web increasingly converged around Chromium and WebKit-derived compatibility.

    Action taken

    Beginning with desktop version 15, Opera adopted Chromium-based rendering technology, ultimately using Blink.

    Aftermath

    The transition improved compatibility with websites and Chromium-based tooling but ended Opera’s role as an independent major browser-engine developer.

    • Mozilla — The decision was discussed in the broader browser-industry debate about declining engine diversity, although no specific formal Mozilla response is established in the cited material.
    Source

  • 2005

    Removal of browser advertisingStrategy

    Background

    Opera sought to improve the user experience and reduce resistance to the advertising-supported browser model.

    Action taken

    Opera removed advertisements from version 8.5 and relied more heavily on revenue associated with Google as the default search engine.

    Aftermath

    The change made the browser more consumer-friendly while reinforcing the importance of search partnerships to browser economics.

    Source

  • 2000

    Shift from trialware to advertising-supported distributionStrategy

    Background

    Opera’s early browser editions required payment after a trial period, which limited frictionless adoption.

    Action taken

    With Opera 5.0, the company made the browser available without a license fee while displaying advertising.

    Aftermath

    The model lowered the direct price of adoption, although advertising within the browser was criticized as a barrier to wider market-share growth. Advertising was removed in later versions, with search-distribution revenue becoming more important.

    Source

Recent events

  • Reported

    Opera introduces WebAI standard[8]

    Opera introduced WebAI, a web standard intended to let users run AI models locally in a browser without relying on cloud services.

  • Reported

    Opera introduces WebAI preview[9]

    Opera introduced WebAI, a web standard for running AI models locally in browsers, and made the new features available as an early preview in its Opera One browser.

  • Reported

    Opera and Butter partner to offer a BNPL extension in the UK[10]

    Opera announced a collaboration with Butter to make Butter’s buy-now-pay-later extension available to shoppers using Opera’s PC browser in the UK.

  • Reported

    Corsair and Opera integrate RGB lighting with Opera GX[11]

    Corsair and Opera teamed up to integrate Corsair's iCUE system with the Opera GX browser, allowing browser activity to trigger RGB lighting effects on Corsair devices.

  • Reported

    Opera launches Hype Clubs[12]

    Opera launched Hype Clubs, public, interest-based group chats in its Hype chat service built into the Opera Mini browser. The Clubs were available on mobile.

  • Reported

    Opera launches Hype chat service in Kenya[13]

    Opera launched Hype, a chat service built into the Opera Mini mobile browser, in Kenya as a pilot market.

  • Reported

    Opera announces Dify cashback and wallet services[14]

    Opera announced the launch of Dify, combining in-browser ecommerce cashback and payments functionality with a wallet app. The services were offered in Spain in beta, with more European markets to follow.

  • Unconfirmed

    Reported

    Opera acquires YoYo Games[15]

    Opera announced that it had acquired YoYo Games, the company behind GameMaker.

  • Reported

    Opera announces acquisition of YoYo Games[16]

    Opera announced its acquisition of YoYo Games, creator of the GameMaker game engine, for approximately $10 million. The acquisition is intended to form the basis for Opera Gaming, a new division focused on gaming.

  • Reported

    Outbrain and Opera announce global advertising partnership[17]

    Outbrain announced a partnership with Opera giving marketers access to inventory across Opera's ad network through Outbrain's Amplify advertising platform. The announcement said the inventory reached 285 million users worldwide.

Read more(18)

Sources28 sources

  1. 1Opera (company)en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2Opera Limited 2025 Annual Report on Form 20-Fsec.gov
  3. 3Opera Files Its 2025 Annual Report on Form 20-Finvestor.opera.com
  4. 4Opera Co-CEO Lin Song Becomes Sole CEOsec.gov
  5. 5Opera Management Teaminvestor.opera.com
  6. 6Opera Board of Directorsinvestor.opera.com
  7. 7Class action lawsuit over Opera IPO documentsai-cio.com
  8. 8Opera推出WebAI标准163.com
  9. 9Opera推出WebAI预览版samaa.tv
  10. 10Opera 与 Butter 合作在英国提供先买后付扩展功能prnewswire.com
  11. 11Corsair 与 Opera 将 RGB 灯光整合至 Opera GXtechspot.com
  12. 12Opera推出Hype Clubsguardian.ng
  13. 13Opera在肯尼亚推出Hype聊天服务itnewsafrica.com
  14. 14Opera宣布推出Dify返现和钱包服务finance.sina.com.cn
  15. 15Opera收购YoYo Gamesmcvuk.com
  16. 16Opera 宣布收购 YoYo Gamesprnewswire.com
  17. 17Outbrain 与 Opera 宣布全球广告合作prweb.com
  18. 18Opera与Google My Business在尼日利亚建立合作punchng.com
  19. 19AirtelTigo与Opera合作在加纳提供免费浏览和流量modernghana.com
  20. 20Opera 达成接管 Pocopay 的协议estonianworld.com
  21. 21Opera 完成对 PocoSys 的收购tech.eu
  22. 22Opera 推出 Opera 65 桌面浏览器更新unwire.hk
  23. 23Opera宣布推出Opera News Hubthisdaylive.com
  24. 24Opera 推出 WebAI 网页标准，支持浏览器本地部署 AI 模型- DoNewsdonews.com
  25. 25Opera Acquires YoYo Games, the Company Behind GameMakerwebpronews.com
  26. 26Opera Launches Dify, an in-browser cashback & payments solution and standalone wallet appprnewswire.com
  27. 27Opera launches Hype, an in-browser chat service for Opera Mini users, in South Africaappablog.wordpress.com
  28. 28Opera partners with Butter to provide an optional in-browser BNPL extension in the UKycharts.com

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