Tether and Shiga Partner to Expand Self-Custodial Assets Across Africa

Integrating Flexible Infrastructure for Regional Access

Tether has joined forces with digital finance platform Shiga to roll out self-custodial financial services across Africa and the Gulf region. Announcing the initiative this week, the companies aim to give users direct control over their assets. The project will provide secure access to stablecoins, digital gold, and cryptocurrencies.

This collaboration addresses the growing demand for independent financial tools in emerging markets. By using a self-custodial framework, users retain full ownership of their private keys and funds without relying on traditional banks. The move targets regions where access to stable foreign currencies and secure wealth preservation remains limited for many residents.

How Will Non-Custodial Solutions Benefit Local Economies?

The new product suite utilizes Tether’s Wallet Development Kit to create a seamless user experience. This technical setup allows Shiga to build flexible applications tailored specifically for consumers and businesses in the targeted areas. The platform will support Tether USD, Bitcoin, and Tether Gold, offering a mix of spending power and inflation hedges.

Shiga is designing dedicated tools intended for end users to manage their daily transactions safely. By blending digital dollars with tokenized precious metals, the project offers a practical alternative for individuals facing local currency volatility. The partnership aims to simplify complex blockchain mechanics into user-friendly mobile interfaces.

# Which digital assets will be supported on the new platform?

Providing self-custodial access allows citizens to protect their savings from economic instability and high inflation rates. Individuals can store value directly on their personal devices, reducing exposure to systemic banking risks. Furthermore, combining stablecoins with digital gold creates versatile options for both immediate trade and long-term financial security.

The expansion into Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council highlights the rising strategic importance of these regions in global crypto adoption. As demand for alternative financial systems continues to grow, such decentralized infrastructure could drive broader economic inclusion and cross-border trade efficiency.

# How does a self-custodial system protect user funds?

The platform will support Tether USD, Bitcoin, and Tether Gold. These options allow users to choose between stable digital dollars, traditional cryptocurrency, and gold-backed assets.

A self-custodial system ensures that users hold their own private keys. This means no third party or central authority can access, freeze, or manage their funds without permission.