19.03.2026 19:07

Celo has put forward a proposal to transform its long-standing relationship with Opera by offering a substantial token allocation in exchange for the browser company's commitment to hold CELO as a long-term stakeholder. The plan, introduced by Celo Core Co., the primary developer behind the Ethereum Layer 2 network, would mark a shift from Opera's current role as a quarterly grant recipient to that of a vested participant in the ecosystem. If the community approves the governance proposal, Opera would receive 160 million CELO tokens—valued at roughly $13 million at present market rates—from Celo's unreleased treasury. This allocation would not involve any direct purchase from the open market.

The news sparked a short-term rally in CELO's price, which climbed more than 7% in a single day despite a broader downturn across crypto markets. Still, the token remains far below its 2021 peak, trading near $0.08 at the time of reporting.

Under the existing model, Celo had been providing Opera with quarterly "strategic grants" of approximately $568,182 in CELO, subject to governance approval every three months. This arrangement, set to continue through early 2026, was designed to incentivize Opera to promote Celo-based decentralized applications, particularly MiniPay. The new proposal would replace this recurring payment structure with a one-time grant that formalizes a three-year extension of the partnership.

The shift is intended to align Opera's interests more closely with the long-term success of the Celo network, encouraging deeper involvement in governance and staking activities. By moving away from periodic payments, Celo aims to foster a more stable and committed relationship with one of its key partners in driving adoption.