Tether, the largest company in the digital asset industry, on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Zanzibar e-Government Authority (eGAZ) to advance digital asset education and blockchain adoption in East Africa.
According to the company, the collaboration aims to strengthen Africa’s digital economy through financial literacy, regulatory clarity, and sustainable technological innovation.
Tether, Zanzibar deal to promote financial inclusion
The partnership seeks to promote financial inclusion by integrating Tether’s stablecoins, USD₮ (USDT) and XAU₮ (gold-backed), into Zanmalipo, Zanzibar’s government payment gateway.
This move is expected to enhance accessibility to borderless financial tools, providing alternatives for savings, cross-border transactions, and business growth.
Tether and eGAZ will also organise educational workshops for stakeholders, focusing on blockchain, Bitcoin, stablecoins, and peer-to-peer technologies.
Additionally, the MoU includes plans to collaborate with academic institutions to integrate blockchain into educational frameworks and host public-private sector events to foster entrepreneurship.
“This MOU with the Zanzibar eGovernment Authority reflects our commitment to advancing financial literacy and sustainable blockchain innovation in Africa,” said Tether’s CEO, Paolo Ardoino. “By combining clarity with educational investment and digital asset integration, we will lay the foundation for a compliant, scalable, and inclusive digital economy.”
Zanzibar’s emerging crypto market
Though Zanzibar’s crypto market is still in its early stages, it has seen growing interest through informal peer-to-peer transactions. The government’s recent blockchain sandbox program highlights its commitment to fostering innovation in digital finance.
“Today marks a significant milestone as Zanzibar joins the rest of the world in harnessing digital assets,” said Said Seif Said, Director General of eGAZ. “This MoU enables us to leverage Tether’s support in driving public participation, education, and institutional reforms for financial inclusion.”
The partnership aligns with Tether’s broader strategy to deepen its presence in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The company recently invested in Shiga Digital, a platform offering blockchain-based financial solutions for African enterprises, and operates 100,000 kiosks across the continent.
With USDT’s market cap surpassing $157 billion and XAU₮ reaching $824 million, the company continues to push for mainstream crypto adoption, and the collaboration with Zanzibar underscores this mission.
About Tether
Tether has become a formidable force in the digital asset industry. More than just an issuer of stablecoins pegged to fiat currencies, the crypto platform is expanding its footprint across various strategic sectors in 2025.
Its core mission is to foster financial inclusion, promote digital asset literacy, and drive sustainable technological advancement globally.
Beyond its dominant role in stablecoins, Tether is deeply invested in initiatives ranging from sustainable Bitcoin mining, with ambitions to become a top player by the end of 2025, to significant artificial intelligence (AI) ventures.
The company has a substantial war chest, allocating billions towards AI research and development, including the launch of its open-source decentralised AI platform.