Tether and Shiga have unveiled plans to introduce self-custodial wallets designed for USD₮, Bitcoin, and Tether Gold for users across Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Summary
- Shiga aims to launch two products: ENTA for individuals and businesses, and Pulse for financial institutions.
- Users will have the ability to fund ENTA wallets using local currency, US dollars, or Bitcoin.
- Institutional clients can opt to use Shiga’s managed infrastructure or operate the wallet software in-house.
- Shiga’s Digital Asset Intermediary license in Nigeria is pending final approval.
Tether confirmed on September 28 that both upcoming products will utilize its open-source Wallet Development Kit (WDK). One product will cater directly to end users, while the other will focus on institutional clients working on payment and treasury solutions for their customers. This initiative deepens the collaboration that began with Tether’s investment in Shiga Digital in June 2025, which also provided services to African enterprises including virtual accounts and foreign exchange.
Shiga’s ENTA will put three assets in user-controlled wallets
Under the proposed framework, ENTA is intended for individual users, high-net-worth clients, and businesses. Users will be able to fund their wallets in local currency, U.S. dollars, or Bitcoin and manage three assets: USD₮, Bitcoin, and tokenized gold (XAU₮). Although the funding mechanisms and asset options are outlined, no specific launch date, initial markets, or fee structure has been disclosed.
This initiative aims to address high remittance costs, which remain a significant issue within the region. The World Bank reported that the average cost of sending funds to Sub-Saharan Africa was 8.46% in the third quarter of 2025, the highest compared to other regions. Tether and Shiga did not provide comparative transfer cost estimates for ENTA.
Tether’s chief executive, Paolo Ardoino, emphasized that the WDK would allow businesses to develop solutions that enable users to retain control of their assets while overcoming challenges in safeguarding savings and facilitating cross-border transactions.
Pulse will let institutions choose where to run the software
Shiga will offer the Pulse platform enabling banks, fintech companies, and other institutions to customize their operations for payment and treasury management. Shiga’s chief executive, Abiola Shogbeni, indicated that the service will be tailored for each institution rather than providing a one-size-fits-all interface.
Institutions using the WDK will have two deployment options: rely on Shiga’s managed infrastructure or maintain direct control by running the software on their own systems. The latter option is designed for clients that need to comply with specific data governance regulations.
While Pulse is targeted toward the Africa-GCC corridor, Tether has yet to name any partnering banks or fintech firms. The announcement did not specify operational corridors or transaction volumes for either product.
Nigerian licence remains under review
Shiga’s chief operating officer, Dami Etomi, stated that the company is nearing the final approval stages for a Digital Asset Intermediary license in Nigeria, which would enable it to legally offer digital asset services within the country. Currently, Shiga has not confirmed possession of the license.
Though the announcement focuses on the African and GCC markets, there was no mention of U.S. availability for these products, amid ongoing regulatory considerations from the U.S. Treasury regarding foreign-issued payment stablecoins.
Why It Matters
This initiative by Tether and Shiga represents a significant step in expanding digital asset access and self-custodial options for users in Africa and the GCC, potentially enabling more efficient financial transactions and addressing existing remittance challenges in these regions.
