Tether to deploy self custodial digital asset products with Shiga in Africa and GCC
Tether, a prominent player in the digital asset industry and issuer of USDT stablecoin has extended its support for Shiga an onchain banking and fintech platform operating in markets including Nigeria, providing cross-border payments and digital asset services, by building self custodial financial products across Africa and GCC ( Gulf Cooperation Council). Built with Wallet Development Kit by Tether (WDK), the products will give users direct control of USD₮, Bitcoin and Tether Gold, or XAU₮, while helping financial institutions build services for specific markets and payment corridors.
As per the announcement, the collaboration builds on Tether’s 2025 strategic investment in Shiga, which was designed to expand blockchain-based financial infrastructure and USD₮ access across Africa. The new initiative marks the next phase of that relationship.
Across many of the markets Shiga serves, currency volatility continues to reduce purchasing power, while the average cost of sending remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa reached 8.46% in 2025. Many existing digital asset platforms address one problem while creating another by requiring users to place their funds in custodial wallets controlled by a third party.
Tether and Shiga will address these challenges through ENTA and Pulse. ENTA will allow individuals, high-net-worth users and businesses to fund self-custodial wallets with local currency, U.S. dollars or Bitcoin, then hold and transfer USD₮, Bitcoin and XAU₮, while Pulse will enable banks, fintech companies and other institutions to build digital asset products around specific payment corridors, treasury operations and settlement flows. Rather than providing a generic wallet interface, Shiga will tailor Pulse to the way each institution and market moves money.
WDK will provide the open-source wallet infrastructure underlying both products. Through a single integration, Shiga can support the blockchain networks available through WDK and offer institutions two deployment options. Clients can use infrastructure managed by Shiga or run it entirely within their own environment, retaining control of their keys, data and funds.
“WDK gives companies the tools to build financial products that keep users in control of their assets,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. “Together with Shiga, we are bringing that infrastructure to markets where people and businesses face real challenges protecting savings and moving money across borders. This collaboration will extend access to USD₮, Bitcoin and XAU₮ while giving banks and fintech companies the flexibility to build around the needs of their customers.”
“Pulse will enable banks, fintech companies and other institutions to build digital asset products around specific payment corridors, treasury operations and settlement flows. Rather than providing a generic wallet interface, Shiga will tailor Pulse to the way each institution and market moves money,” said Abiola Shogbeni, CEO of Shiga.
“Shiga is completing the final stage of approval for a Digital Asset Intermediary licence in Nigeria. Subject to final approval, the licence will authorize Shiga to provide regulated digital asset dealing, broking and custody services to individuals and institutions in the country. Shiga will also run ENTA on the same underlying platform it offers to external clients, giving prospective partners a live example of the infrastructure in operation,” said Dami Etomi, COO of Shiga.
