Tether, the world’s largest company in the digital asset space, has announced a strategic investment in Kotani Pay, a leading African Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) that specializes in on-ramp and off-ramp infrastructure connecting Web3 users to local payment channels across the continent.
The partnership marks a significant milestone in expanding financial inclusion and empowering African individuals and businesses with easier access to digital assets. The investment aims to lower barriers to participation in the global financial system by making it simpler, faster, and more affordable to transact across borders using blockchain technology.
Kotani Pay has become a notable player in Africa’s fintech landscape, building infrastructure that aligns with Tether’s mission to broaden blockchain use cases beyond speculation — including cross-border payments, digital asset management, and access to financial tools for underserved communities.
By enabling enterprises to efficiently manage international operations and offering individuals practical access to global liquidity, Kotani Pay continues to demonstrate how blockchain technology can be applied to real-world challenges in Africa’s fast-evolving digital economy.
Addressing Africa’s Cross-Border Financial Barriers
This investment is expected to directly address long-standing challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and corporates in emerging markets — particularly high transaction fees, slow settlement times, and limited access to international banking networks.
Through blockchain-powered payment rails, Tether and Kotani Pay aim to enable more seamless access to digital assets and cross-border payments, giving African users — many of whom are unbanked or underbanked — a reliable entry point into the global financial system.
Crypto Adoption on the Rise in Sub-Saharan Africa
According to a recent Chainalysis regional report, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the smallest crypto economy by volume, but it has the highest grassroots adoption and use of crypto for real-world financial needs.
Between July 2024 and June 2025, the region recorded over US$205 billion in on-chain crypto transaction volume, representing a 52% year-on-year increase. This growth is largely driven by retail transactions, remittances, and local entrepreneurship in key markets such as Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Ethiopia — countries facing persistent inflation, currency instability, and limited access to traditional financial services.
Voices from Tether and Kotani Pay
“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. Together, we aim to reduce friction in cross-border transactions, enable global operations for businesses and individuals, and build a more inclusive financial future.”
Felix Macharia, CEO and Co-founder of Kotani Pay, added:
“This strategic investment from Tether positions us to continue our mission of bridging Africans to the on-chain economy. We are excited to leverage the Tether Ecosystem to build tools of wealth creation for individuals and enterprises across the continent.”
Toward an Inclusive Digital Economy
Both companies have expressed a shared commitment to driving financial inclusion and transparency through blockchain-based solutions. This partnership sets a new standard for how digital asset infrastructure can support economic participation in Africa — from micro-entrepreneurs to multinational corporations.
Together, Tether and Kotani Pay aim to shape a resilient, inclusive, and digitally connected financial ecosystem for Africa — one that empowers communities to transact globally while building stability and trust in the digital economy.
