Tether, the issuer of the world's largest stablecoin USDT, has entered into a strategic partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to enhance digital security and combat financial crime across Africa. This collaboration is a core component of the UNODC's Strategic Vision for Africa 2030, aiming to address the region's rapid cryptocurrency adoption alongside rising threats from cybercrime and fraud.
The initiative is a direct response to the growing sophistication of criminal networks exploiting digital assets in Africa, which is now the world's third-fastest-growing crypto market. Recent Interpol operations in the region uncovered over $260 million in illegal crypto and fiat funds, highlighting the scale of the challenge. The partnership seeks to leverage blockchain's inherent transparency to build stronger legal and financial frameworks, improve monitoring of illicit fund flows, and enhance the investigative capabilities of local law enforcement agencies.
The multi-faceted program includes three key pillars: First, a cybersecurity education initiative in Senegal, implemented with the Plan B Foundation, will offer virtual bootcamps, mentorship, and micro-grants to empower youth with the tools to safely navigate the digital economy. Second, Tether is providing funding to civil society organizations in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Uganda to offer direct aid—including emergency shelter, medical, and legal assistance—to victims of human trafficking through the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons (UNVTF). Third, the program extends to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, where university-led student competitions will promote blockchain literacy, financial inclusion, and fraud prevention.
Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, and Sylvie Bertrand, UNODC regional representative, emphasized the critical need to combine technological innovation with education and cross-sector cooperation to build trustworthy digital ecosystems and protect vulnerable communities.
The partnership arrives at a pivotal moment for crypto in Sub-Saharan Africa. Chainalysis data shows the region received over $205 billion in on-chain value from mid-2024 to mid-2025, representing 52% annual growth. Stablecoins like USDT play a central role, accounting for roughly 43% of all crypto transaction volume in the region as individuals use them to hedge against local currency devaluation and inflation. Tether is further supporting this infrastructure growth through strategic investments, such as in Kotani Pay, a solution that bridges Web3 users with local mobile money payment channels.
This top-down alliance with a major UN body, coupled with bottom-up infrastructure development, signals a maturing market. While fraud and regulatory uncertainty remain, the involvement of international organizations like the UNODC underscores that digital assets are becoming a permanent and substantial component of Africa's economic future.
