Tether has announced a major partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to combat rising crypto-related crimes and protect digital users across Africa.
Key Takeaways
- Tether and UNODC have teamed up to fight cybercrime and human trafficking in Africa, focusing on education, security, and victim support.
- Africa is the third-fastest-growing crypto region, but it remains highly vulnerable due to weak regulation and limited cybersecurity.
- The partnership supports the UN’s Strategic Vision for Africa 2030, using blockchain tools to build safer, more inclusive financial systems.
- Nigeria leads in USDT usage, with citizens relying on Tether for remittances, e-commerce, and daily transactions.
What Happened?
Tether, the issuer of the world’s most-used stablecoin USDT, has joined forces with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to roll out multiple initiatives aimed at protecting African communities from digital threats. The collaboration will use blockchain technology to fight scams, improve education, and help victims of exploitation and trafficking.
Tether and the United Nations Join Forces to Safeguard Africa’s Digital Economy
— Tether (@tether) January 9, 2026
Learn more: https://t.co/qKyZLH8j63
Tether and UNODC Take Action Across Africa
As digital asset adoption surges across Africa, so do risks like fraud, scams, and illicit transactions. A recent Interpol investigation uncovered $260 million in illicit crypto and fiat transactions across African nations, underlining the urgent need for tighter security.
To address this, Tether and the UNODC have launched several on-the-ground projects:
- Senegal Project: A youth-focused cybersecurity program that includes bootcamps, mentorship, and microgrants. The Plan B Foundation, a partnership between Tether and the city of Lugano, plays a key role by leading educational sessions.
- Africa Project: Provides direct funding to civil society groups supporting victims of human trafficking in countries including Nigeria, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Uganda.
- Papua New Guinea Project: While based outside Africa, this initiative reflects the global scope of the collaboration, focusing on financial inclusion and fraud awareness through university-led blockchain competitions.
These efforts are all aligned with the UNODC’s Strategic Vision for Africa 2030, a roadmap to promote peace, security, and inclusive development across the continent.
Nigeria Emerges as a USDT Stronghold
The partnership also reflects Tether’s growing presence in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, which has emerged as one of the largest user bases for USDT. Tether recently highlighted this trend, noting on X (formerly Twitter) that “in Nigeria, from remittances to daily survival, USD₮ has become part of everyday life.”
In Nigeria, from remittances to daily survival, USD₮ has become part of everyday life. 🇳🇬
— Tether (@tether) January 9, 2026
Watch the new episode of Africa’s Voices 👇
📹USD₮: Nigeria’s Digital Lifeline 🌍 pic.twitter.com/mI805TqRUG
USDT’s stability and ease of use have made it a popular choice for daily purchases, e-commerce, and money transfers, especially in economies affected by inflation or currency volatility. Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, Tether is pegged to the US dollar, making it a more reliable digital asset for everyday transactions.
Voices from the Partnership
Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration in solving deep-rooted issues like exploitation and trafficking. He said:
Sylvie Bertrand, UNODC’s Regional Representative for West and Central Africa, highlighted how digital assets can unlock Africa’s development. She said:
CoinLaw’s Takeaway
I really like what’s happening here. In my experience watching crypto adoption trends, Africa’s growth is exciting but fragile, and partnerships like this one show that responsible innovation is possible. Too often, crypto stories focus on profit and hype, but this one is about real people, real problems, and using tech to protect rather than exploit. The Tether-UNODC collaboration isn’t just a good PR move. It’s a solid example of how crypto can be used as a force for good, especially when paired with trusted institutions and local programs. I’ll be keeping a close eye on how this plays out, especially in Nigeria, which is clearly leading the way.
