Tether and Shiga Partner on Self-Custodial Wallets for Africa and GCC

The project introduces two distinct platforms: ENTA, designed for individuals and businesses, and Pulse, a tailored solution for banks and fintech firms. ENTA allows users to hold and transfer assets while funding their accounts via local currencies, U.S. dollars, or Bitcoin. Meanwhile, Pulse offers institutions the flexibility to either utilize Shiga’s managed infrastructure or integrate the wallet software directly into their own secure environments, ensuring full control over keys and data.

This expansion builds on a strategic investment Tether made in Shiga Digital in June 2025. By focusing on the Africa-GCC corridor, the companies aim to address high remittance costs, which reached an average of 8.46% for Sub-Saharan Africa in late 2025 according to World Bank data. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino emphasized that the WDK infrastructure provides a necessary tool for regions where protecting savings and facilitating cross-border movement remain significant hurdles.

Regulatory milestones remain a critical variable for the rollout. Shiga’s Chief Operating Officer Dami Etomi confirmed the company is currently in the final stages of securing a Digital Asset Intermediary license in Nigeria. In the Gulf, the regulatory landscape is bolstered by the Abu Dhabi Global Market’s recognition of Tether Gold as an accepted spot commodity. Despite these developments, Tether has yet to disclose specific launch dates, fee structures, or the initial list of participating financial institutions for the Pulse platform.