Tether is expanding its financial infrastructure across Africa and the GCC through a new collaboration with Shiga to launch self-custodial products for individuals, businesses, and institutions.
The products will support USD₮, Bitcoin, and Tether Gold (XAU₮) through Tether’s Wallet Development Kit (WDK), giving users direct control of their assets. The initiative builds on Tether’s 2025 investment in Shiga and expands its focus on blockchain-based financial infrastructure.
Source: Tether
Tether and Shiga Expand Financial Infrastructure
Tether and Shiga will deploy two self-custodial products, ENTA and Pulse, using WDK. ENTA is designed for individuals, high-net-worth users, and businesses, while Pulse will target banks, fintech companies, and other institutions.
The partnership follows Tether’s strategic investment in Shiga during 2025. That investment focused on expanding blockchain-based financial infrastructure and USD₮ access across Africa. The latest initiative moves the relationship toward deploying products built around self-custody, payments, and institutional settlement.
ENTA and Pulse Address Different Market Needs
ENTA will allow users to fund self-custodial wallets with local currency, U.S. dollars or Bitcoin. Users can then hold and transfer USD₮, Bitcoin and XAU₮ while maintaining control of their assets.
Pulse takes an institutional approach by allowing banks and fintech companies to build digital asset products around payment corridors, treasury operations and settlement flows. Shiga plans to customize the infrastructure according to the requirements of individual institutions and markets.
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WDK Supports Self-Custodial Infrastructure
“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.”
Shiga will provide institutions with two deployment options. Clients can use infrastructure managed by Shiga or operate it within their own environment. This model is designed to address requirements involving key control, data management, and operational independence.
WDK supports Bitcoin, Lightning, USD₮, and XAU₮ while offering modular infrastructure that can be extended across blockchain networks and digital asset applications.
Africa and GCC Payment Infrastructure Remains Key Focus
The collaboration comes as payment costs and currency conditions remain important considerations across several African markets. Tether noted that the average cost of sending remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa reached 8.46% in 2025.
The companies are positioning self-custodial digital assets as part of a broader financial infrastructure model. The focus extends beyond individual users, with Pulse designed to connect stablecoin infrastructure with banks, fintech companies, and specific payment corridors.
This approach could allow institutions to develop services around their existing operational requirements rather than adopting a standardized digital asset platform.
Tether also signed a memorandum with Pave Bank and GFTN on September 24 to explore the Georgia–Singapore Fintech Scholars Program. The initiative is expected to begin in 2027 and will connect selected students from Tbilisi State University with Singapore’s fintech ecosystem.
Nigeria’s Regulatory Progress Adds Institutional Context
Shiga is also completing the final stage of approval for a Digital Asset Intermediary license in Nigeria. Subject to final approval, the license would authorize Shiga to provide regulated digital asset dealing, broking, and custody services to individuals and institutions.
Shiga plans to operate ENTA on the same underlying platform offered to external clients. The move would provide prospective partners with a live example of the infrastructure while the company develops its institutional services.
Product Deployment Becomes the Next Catalyst
The next stage of the partnership will center on deploying ENTA and Pulse across their targeted markets. Regulatory approvals, institutional partnerships, and payment-corridor development will remain important factors as the products move toward broader use.
Tether’s collaboration with Shiga expands its self-custodial strategy across Africa and the GCC. ENTA focuses on individuals and businesses, while Pulse targets financial institutions. With WDK providing the infrastructure layer and Shiga progressing toward regulatory approval in Nigeria, product deployment and institutional adoption are the key developments to watch next.
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