Tether, the world’s largest company in the digital asset industry, has announced a strategic investment in Kotani Pay, a financial technology firm building infrastructure that connects Web3 users to local payment systems across Africa.
In a press release on Tuesday, the company said the partnership aims to facilitate Africans’ and businesses’ access to digital assets, cross-border payments, and more active participation in the global economy.
Kotani Pay empowering Africa’s financial inclusion
The platform has become one of the rising names in Africa’s fintech landscape. It offers blockchain-based solutions that meet local market needs.
They help businesses and individuals easily manage international operations, giving them access to global liquidity and faster, cheaper payment systems.
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According to Tether, the investment is part of its mission to expand blockchain use cases across Africa. It also focuses on reducing barriers faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individuals in emerging markets, such as high transaction costs, long settlement times, and limited access to global financial systems.
“At Tether, we believe that blockchain technology plays a critical role in unlocking financial freedom,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether.
“Kotani Pay’s vision and strong regional presence make it the right fit to drive our shared goals in Africa and beyond. Together, we aim to empower enterprises and individuals to access digital assets for their global operations, reduce friction in cross-border transactions, and build a more inclusive financial future while promoting the informed use of digital assets.”
Africa has witnessed a significant transformation in how people access and use financial services. Although Sub-Saharan Africa remains the smallest crypto economy globally, its usage patterns highlight strong local adoption.
Between July 2024 and June 2025, the region’s on-chain crypto transaction volume reached about $205 billion, a 52 per cent increase from the previous year.
Countries like Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, and Ethiopia continue to lead this growth, driven by remittances and retail usage.
Tether, Kotani Pay aim to promote blockchain in Africa
Kotani Pay’s Co-founder and CEO, Felix Macharia, said the partnership will help the company expand its mission of connecting Africans to the global financial system.
“At Kotani Pay, we have been fortunate to witness and build on the rising usage of blockchain technology on the continent across a variety of use cases. This strategic investment from Tether better positions us to continue our work as a bridge to the on-chain economy, connecting millions of Africans to the global financial system.”
“We are excited to be part of the Tether Ecosystem and to leverage the shared knowledge to advance the goals of building tools of wealth creation for African individuals and businesses,” Macharia added.
Both companies say their shared vision is to promote inclusion, efficiency, and transparency through blockchain technology, shaping a more resilient and inclusive digital economy for Africa.