Tether partners with Shiga to launch self-custodial finance in Africa and GCC

Shiga: Shiga partners with Tether to build and launch self-custodial products for individuals, businesses and institutions in Africa and the GCC using Tether’s Wallet Development Kit. It is finalizing approval for a Digital Asset Intermediary licence in Nigeria that would authorize regulated digital asset dealing, broking and custody services. Shiga will run its ENTA platform on the same infrastructure offered to clients and tailor Pulse solutions for specific payment corridors and treasury operations. Tether: Tether is the largest company in the digital asset industry and develops open-source infrastructure including the Wallet Development Kit. It announced a collaboration with Shiga to deploy self-custodial financial products supporting USD₮, Bitcoin and XAU₮ across Africa and the GCC. The partnership advances Tether’s efforts to expand access to decentralized finance tools while addressing local market needs for user-controlled wallets and institutional solutions. Dami Etomi: Dami Etomi is the COO of Shiga. He noted that Shiga is completing final approval for a Digital Asset Intermediary licence in Nigeria, which would authorize regulated services and let the company demonstrate its ENTA platform as a live example for prospective partners. Paolo Ardoino: Paolo Ardoino is the CEO of Tether. He highlighted how WDK enables companies to build financial products that keep users in control of their assets while extending access to USD₮, Bitcoin and XAU₮ in markets facing challenges with savings protection and cross-border transfers. Abiola Shogbeni: Abiola Shogbeni is the CEO of Shiga. He described how Pulse will allow banks, fintech companies and institutions to create tailored digital asset products around specific payment corridors, treasury operations and settlement flows rather than generic wallet interfaces. Licensing: Shiga is advancing toward a Digital Asset Intermediary licence in Nigeria that would enable it to offer regulated digital asset dealing, broking and custody services. Market Focus: The collaboration targets regions where currency volatility affects purchasing power and where self-custodial options help users avoid reliance on third-party custodial platforms. Infrastructure: Tether’s Wallet Development Kit is an open-source toolkit that supports Bitcoin, Lightning, USD₮, XAU₮ and additional assets with modular infrastructure for self-custodial wallets.