Tether Invests in Africa’s Shiga Digital to Boost On-Chain Financial Inclusion
Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has announced a strategic investment in Shiga Digital, an African blockchain-based financial solutions provider. This move underscores Tether’s expanding commitment to financial inclusion and global access, particularly in emerging markets like Africa.
Empowering Africa's On-Chain Finance Infrastructure
Shiga Digital offers a suite of blockchain-enabled financial services, including virtual accounts, OTC trading, FX services, and treasury management for businesses across Africa. Through this collaboration, USDT will play a central role in facilitating cross-border payments, accessing global liquidity, and supporting foreign exchange transactions.
The partnership is expected to bridge traditional industries like oil and gas, while also enabling freelancers and independent contractors in Africa to receive payments in stable US dollars — without the constraints of legacy banking systems.
A Shared Philosophy: Financial Freedom as a Right
Both companies operate under the belief that "financial freedom is a right, not a privilege." By leveraging blockchain technology and dollar-pegged stablecoins like USDT, Shiga Digital aims to democratize financial access and empower individuals and businesses previously excluded from the global economy.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino emphasized the transformative role of stablecoins, stating:
“Stablecoins are at the heart of financial innovation. Our investment in Shiga Digital reinforces our mission to improve accessibility and efficiency for businesses across Africa.”
Shiga CEO Abiola Shogbeni echoed this vision, noting that the future of money is decentralized.
“Bitcoin will become the global reserve currency, and stablecoins like USDT are becoming essential for everyday payments and portfolio management. Self-custody will be the norm as individuals seek full control over their assets.”
Africa’s Accelerating Blockchain Adoption
Africa is rapidly emerging as a hotspot for blockchain adoption. From Morocco’s central bank drafting crypto regulations to various governments and enterprises embracing digital assets for cross-border trade and value storage, the continent is building a strong foundation for on-chain finance.
This makes the Tether–Shiga partnership even more significant, laying the groundwork for scalable, blockchain-native financial infrastructure.
On-Chain Payments for Real-World Use
Shiga Digital is currently developing an on-chain gateway that will allow users to pay for everyday goods and services using USDT, without requiring local currency off-ramps. The project aims to normalize stablecoin-based transactions across African economies, reducing reliance on inflation-prone fiat systems.
Tether’s latest investment reinforces its position as not just a stablecoin issuer but a strategic enabler of decentralized financial ecosystems — especially in regions where traditional banking fails to meet the needs of a modern, digital-first economy.
No comments:
Post a Comment