Tether and Shiga launch self-custody wallets for Africa, GCC amid high remittance costs

AFRICA, 29 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Tether and digital asset firm Shiga will introduce two self-custodial wallets—ENTA for consumers and Pulse for institutions—targeting Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, where cross-border remittance fees average 8.46% in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to World Bank data cited by the firms.

ENTA, designed for individuals and businesses, will allow funding via local currency, USD, or BTC, with holdings restricted to USD₮, BTC, and XAU₮. Shiga CEO Abiola Shogbeni said the wallet will adapt to local financial behaviors, though Tether’s announcement does not confirm whether it will hold fiat deposits directly. Pulse, the institutional offering, provides flexible deployment—clients can use Shiga-managed infrastructure or host the wallet internally while retaining full custody of private keys.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino framed the move as addressing financial exclusion in target markets. "Together with Shiga, we’re bringing infrastructure to markets where people and businesses face real challenges protecting savings and moving money across borders," he said. The collaboration follows Tether’s June 2025 investment in Shiga Digital, which already offers virtual accounts, FX, and OTC trading to African businesses.

Regulatory and operational gaps remain unresolved No launch dates, fees, or supported countries have been disclosed. In Nigeria, Shiga awaits final approval for a Digital Asset Intermediary licence, which would legally enable ENTA and Pulse operations. In the GCC, Tether Gold (XAU₮) holds ADGM’s Accepted Spot Commodity designation, but Shiga’s ability to operate under this status depends on its own ADGM compliance—still unconfirmed.

The wallets introduce self-custody risks: users must securely back up recovery phrases, with no recourse if lost. Tether’s prior wallet venture, MiniPay (built with Opera), faced usability and security criticism despite adding USD₮ and XAU₮ support in February 2025.

Strategic shift for Tether This move signals a pivot from stablecoin issuance to infrastructure, aligning with competitors like Circle (USDC) and Paxos (USDP). However, without confirmed timelines, partner commitments, or regulatory clarity, the initiative remains intent over execution. Success hinges on Nigeria’s licence approval, GCC compliance, and adoption by banks and fintechs—none guaranteed.

Until then, the announcement reflects ambition rather than a live product. Prospective users and regulators will watch closely for details on fees, supported assets, and country-level availability.

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