Tether WDK Partner Shiga to Launch Self-Custodial Wallets

In Short

• Tether is partnering with Shiga to launch self-custodial digital asset products in Africa and the GCC.
• The products will support USD₮ (USDT), Bitcoin, and XAU₮ (Tether Gold).
• Shiga is also finalising approval for a Digital Asset Intermediary licence in Nigeria.

What Happened

Tether is working with Shiga to roll out self-custodial finance products across Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC. The partnership is built on Tether’s Wallet Development Kit, or WDK, an open-source toolkit that helps companies build crypto wallets.

Self-custodial means the user controls the private keys, which are like the password to a safe. In a custodial wallet, a third party holds those keys, which can create counterparty risk if that company is hacked, freezes accounts, or fails.

Shiga plans to launch two offerings, ENTA and Pulse. ENTA is aimed at individuals and businesses. It will let users fund a self-custodial wallet using local currency, U.S. dollars, or Bitcoin, then hold and transfer USDT, Bitcoin, and XAU₮.

Pulse targets banks, fintechs, and other institutions. Shiga says it will tailor the product to specific payment corridors, treasury operations, and settlement flows, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all wallet interface.

Tether said the partnership builds on its 2025 strategic investment in Shiga, moving from capital support into product deployment.

Why It Matters

The pitch is partly about everyday financial pain points. In many African markets, currency volatility can erode savings. Cross-border remittances into Sub-Saharan Africa are also costly, with the World Bank putting the average fee at 8.46% in 2025.

For regulated institutions, the infrastructure model may matter as much as the wallet features. Tether says WDK enables a single integration across supported blockchain networks, and Shiga will offer two setups. Institutions can use Shiga-managed infrastructure or run the stack inside their own environment to keep control of keys, data, and funds.

Shiga’s pending Digital Asset Intermediary licence in Nigeria could also shape adoption. If approved, it would allow regulated dealing, broking, and custody services for individuals and institutions in the country.