Catenaa, Saturday, June 07, 2025- Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, has made a strategic investment in Shiga Digital, a small Abu Dhabi-based startup focused on blockchain financial services across Africa, the company said Thursday.
Shiga Digital provides virtual accounts, over-the-counter trading, treasury management and foreign exchange services to businesses throughout the continent.
Though Tether did not disclose the size of the investment, it described the move as part of a broader effort to break down financial barriers and expand access to global liquidity using blockchain tools like USDT.
“This collaboration marks a significant step toward addressing longstanding financial barriers faced by African businesses,” Tether said in a statement, noting Shiga’s potential to support industries such as oil and gas with treasury and FX services.
Tether’s growing presence in Africa includes previous partnerships with regional players like Quidax, a cryptocurrency exchange, and investments in cross-border payment firms such as MANSA.
It also launched a Bitcoin mining initiative aimed at local energy and infrastructure development.
Shiga Digital, with fewer than 10 employees according to LinkedIn, has maintained a low public profile but is seen by Tether as a gateway to deepening its role in Africa’s digital finance evolution.
The company is registered in the United Arab Emirates but markets itself as pan-African.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said the partnership aligns with the company’s mission to support financial inclusion in emerging markets.
