Enlarging blockchain education ventures in Africa through collaboration with Zanzibar partnership by Tether
In a groundbreaking move, Tether, a leading stablecoin issuer and global blockchain firm, has announced a strategic partnership with the Zanzibar e-Government Agency (eGaz). The collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in early July 2025, aims to advance blockchain education, promote cryptocurrency adoption, and foster financial inclusion in the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar.
## Key Details of the Partnership
### Blockchain Education and Curriculum Integration
Tether will work with local educational institutions to incorporate blockchain education into their existing curricula. This includes organizing workshops, seminars, and public sector events to raise awareness and understanding of blockchain, Bitcoin, stablecoins, and peer-to-peer technologies. The initiatives are aimed at a broad range of stakeholders, including students, government employees, and the general public, with the goal of equipping them with practical knowledge and skills in digital assets and blockchain applications.
### Financial Inclusion and Regulatory Framework
The partnership seeks to lay the groundwork for greater financial inclusion in Zanzibar, emphasizing the development of compliant, scalable, and inclusive digital economy solutions. Tether and eGaz are committed to catalyzing legal and institutional reforms to support the adoption of digital assets and blockchain technology, while also promoting public participation and transparency. It's important to note that the MoU does not establish any binding financial obligations but provides a framework for future discussions, pilot activities, and potential regulatory advancements.
### Digital Payments Gateway Integration
Tether plans to integrate its stablecoins—USD-pegged USDT and gold-pegged XAUT—into ZanMalipo, Zanzibar’s government-controlled digital payments gateway. This integration is intended to support and expand the region’s digital economy by enabling more secure, efficient, and inclusive financial transactions.
## Statements from Leadership
Paolo Ardoino, Tether CEO, stated, "This MOU with the Zanzibar eGovernment Authority reflects our commitment to advancing financial literacy and sustainable blockchain innovation in Africa...By combining clarity with educational investment and digital asset integration, we will be laying the foundation for a compliant, scalable, and inclusive digital economy."
Said Seif, Director General of eGaz, commented, "This MOU with Tether provides us access to the future as we could leverage on Tether’s support in enabling public participation, digital assets education, and catalyzing legal and institutional reforms towards inclusion."
This partnership marks a significant step for Zanzibar in exploring digital asset education, supporting financial inclusion, and leveraging blockchain technology for sustainable economic development. Tether, alongside eGaz, may promote blockchain-focused events to raise awareness on, and further drive the adoption of digital assets in Zanzibar. In 2023, the government of Mauritius launched the nationwide blockchain-based eVerify service to enhance the verification of government-issued certificates, indicating a growing trend of African governments incorporating blockchain technology into their governance activities.
| Aspect | Details | |------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Education & Curriculum | Workshops, seminars, curriculum integration, targeting students and government workers | | Financial Inclusion | Focus on underserved markets, compliant and scalable digital economy | | Regulatory Reforms | Support for legal and institutional changes to enable digital asset adoption | | Digital Payments Integration | USDT and XAUT to be integrated into Zanzibar’s ZanMalipo digital payments gateway | | Governance | Collaboration with local academic institutions and government agencies |
- Tether, in partnership with the Zanzibar e-Government Agency, is working towards integrating blockchain education into local curricula, aiming to equip a broad range of stakeholders with practical knowledge on digital assets and blockchain applications.
- The partnership between Tether and eGaz aims to foster financial inclusion in Zanzibar by developing compliant, scalable, and inclusive digital economy solutions, while promoting public participation and transparency.
- As part of the strategic collaboration, Tether intends to integrate its stablecoins USDT and XAUT into Zanzibar’s government-controlled digital payments gateway, ZanMalipo, to support and expand the region’s digital economy.
- Paolo Ardoino, Tether CEO, expressed that the partnership reflects their commitment to advancing financial literacy and sustainable blockchain innovation in Africa, focusing on clarity, educational investment, and digital asset integration for a compliant, scalable, and inclusive digital economy.
- Said Seif, Director General of eGaz, stated that the partnership provides access to the future, leveraging Tether’s support for public participation, digital assets education, and catalyzing legal and institutional reforms towards inclusion.
- This partnership between Tether and eGaz may signify a significant milestone for Zanzibar in exploring digital asset education, supporting financial inclusion, and leveraging blockchain technology for sustainable economic development, potentially leading to a rise in blockchain-focused events to drive the adoption of digital assets in the region.
