Tether, a global leader in blockchain-based stablecoins, is taking a significant step towards enhancing financial access across Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council. On September 28, Tether announced a partnership with Shiga to launch self-custodial financial products that will empower users and institutions alike.
This innovative collaboration comes on the heels of Tether’s strategic investment in Shiga in 2025, paving the way for two distinct products designed to cater to different market segments. The first offering, ENTA, is tailored for individual users, high-net-worth individuals, and businesses, enabling them to fund self-custodial wallets using local currencies, U.S. dollars, or Bitcoin. This will facilitate the holding and transferring of a range of assets, including USDT, Bitcoin (BTC), and Tether Gold (XAUT).
The second product, Pulse, is aimed at institutional clients such as banks and fintech companies. Pulse will allow these entities to build digital-asset services centered around specific payment corridors, enhancing treasury operations and settlement flows. Both products leverage Tether’s open-source Wallet Development Kit (WDK), ensuring a robust and secure infrastructure.
One of the standout features of these products is their self-custody element, which grants users and institutions complete control over their private keys and assets. This marks a significant departure from traditional centralized wallet providers, allowing for greater security and autonomy. Institutional clients can either utilize infrastructure managed by Shiga or implement the technology within their own operational environments.
Remittances serve as a critical focus for this initiative. According to World Bank data, the average cost of sending remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa reached an eye-watering 8.46% in 2025. By leveraging stablecoins, Tether and Shiga aim to mitigate some of the friction associated with transferring dollar-denominated value across borders, particularly in regions where access to conventional banking services is limited.
However, regulatory considerations remain a crucial aspect of this venture. Shiga is currently in the final stages of securing approval for a Digital Asset Intermediary license in Nigeria, which would permit the company to provide regulated dealing, broking, and custody services once granted.
This partnership is not solely about USDT; it also encompasses Bitcoin and Tether Gold, giving users access to a diverse array of digital assets. With this triad of options—a stablecoin, a decentralized asset, and tokenized gold—Tether and Shiga aim to cater to varying risk appetites and investment strategies.
Throughout 2026, Tether has been focused on expanding its Wallet Development Kit as a fundamental infrastructure that other businesses can utilize. Collaborating with Shiga provides a tangible deployment of this strategy, enabling local companies and financial institutions to build tailored solutions instead of relying on a Tether-branded wallet.
As the partnership unfolds, it promises to reshape the financial landscape in Africa, offering innovative solutions that enhance digital asset accessibility and usability.
