Tether's Strategic Investment in Shiga Digital to Boost Africa's Blockchain Finance
Zach Anderson Jun 05, 2025 08:20
Tether announces investment in Shiga Digital to enhance blockchain-based financial solutions in Africa, aiming to address cross-border payment challenges and improve financial access.
Tether, a leading entity in the digital asset industry, has announced a strategic investment in Shiga Digital, a platform designed to provide pan-African access to blockchain-based financial solutions. This collaboration aims to address significant financial barriers faced by African businesses, particularly in cross-border payments and global liquidity access, according to Tether.
Addressing Financial Barriers
The partnership between Tether and Shiga Digital marks a pivotal step towards creating a seamless blockchain-based financial infrastructure powered by Tether's USD₮. This infrastructure will support treasury and foreign exchange (FX) management for legacy industries such as oil and gas, both within Africa and internationally. It aims to enable independent contractors to access foreign currencies and receive payments globally with ease, which is crucial in regions where reliable international banking services are limited.
Shiga Digital's Vision
Shiga Digital is committed to democratizing traditional finance by leveraging blockchain technology and stablecoins like USD₮. Their goal is to integrate millions of underserved individuals and businesses into the global economy, aligning with Tether's vision of making financial freedom a fundamental right rather than a privilege.
Growing Interest in Digital Assets
Africa's digital asset landscape is rapidly evolving, as demonstrated by Morocco's central bank preparing legislation to regulate cryptocurrencies. This move reflects a growing readiness across the continent to embrace blockchain innovation. Organizations are increasingly exploring digital currencies for cross-border payments and inflation hedging, indicating a broader shift towards modern financial technologies.
Statements from Industry Leaders
Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, emphasized the transformative potential of stablecoins in financial systems, stating, "By collaborating with innovators like Shiga Digital, we aim to deliver financial access and efficiency to African enterprises." Abiola Shogbeni, CEO of Shiga Digital, highlighted the importance of decentralization and self-custody in the future of finance, envisioning a world where stablecoins play a crucial role in everyday transactions.
Future Developments
Shiga Digital is developing an on-chain gateway to enable direct transactions in USD₮ for everyday goods and services, eliminating the need to convert into local currencies. Tether's investment supports this initiative, reinforcing its commitment to expanding blockchain innovation and stablecoin adoption across Africa, thus facilitating the integration of blockchain technology into practical business operations.
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