In Brief

• Tether and Zanzibar’s e-Government Authority signed an MoU to launch a blockchain education program for digital finance access.

• The initiative includes developer workshops, academic integration, and public-private collaboration.

• It positions Zanzibar as a rising hub for blockchain innovation and financial inclusion in Africa.

Tether, a cornerstone for digital asset adoption in Africa via USDT, has recently signed an MoU with Zanzibar’s e-Government Authority(eGaz).

This strategic alliance aims to develop a comprehensive blockchain education program to foster a new generation of youths who understand digital assets’ fundamental workings and benefits.

Inside the MoU: Blueprint for Digital Transformation via Blockchain Education Program

The Memorandum of Understanding entails a few key elements necessary to ensure the efficient climb of Zanzibar up the Web3 ladder.

As mentioned numerous times, education is the heart of Web3. It’s not about learning what the technology is but about educating Africans about what they can do with it.

Tether’s long-term plan for Africa is to strengthen its digital economy through education, regulatory clarity and the development of an innovative ecosystem.

To accomplish this, the digital asset titan will co-develop blockchain workshops for developers that cover fundamentals like Bitcoin’s utility beyond speculation and stablecoin mechanisms.

Veteran innovators’ main focus will be building real-world solutions for local challenges. This will mainly rely on teaching developers that blockchain goes beyond remittances and finance and can practically erode corruption completely.

The MoU also envisions collaborating with local academic institutions and research centers to integrate blockchain studies into Zanzibar’s education sector.

Developing a formal education later complements shorter workshops, ensuring that blockchain in Zanzibar evolves from a choice to an embedded skillset within its youth.

CHECK OUT: Tether Pursues Big Four Audit Amid Africa’s USDT Growth

Tether also hinted at the possibility of technical integration of USD₮ and XAU₮ into Zanmalipo (Zanzibar’s government payment gateway).

Success here could effectively redefine transactions for the nation and drive stablecoin adoption to a new level.

Additionally, both entities seek to establish public forums, entrepreneur incubators, and regulatory sandbox sessions consolidating the region’s policymakers, businesses and communities.

These dialogues will also significantly support future governments’ blockchain projects, creating a conducive environment for growth.

Why Zanzibar? The Inclusion Imperative

While Zanzibar’s crypto market is still nascent, the region’s traction in informal peer-to-peer transactions and localized experimentation with digital finance caught Tether’s attention.

The region recently launched a blockchain sandbox program showcasing a collective awakening throughout Africa with a single realization: blockchain is the future.

The technology offers various alternatives, from finance and security to automation and identity verification. Director General Mr. Said of eGAZ noted how the MoU provides access to the future.

He notes:

This MoU with the Zanzibar eGovernment Authority reflects our commitment to advancing financial literacy and sustainable blockchain innovation in Africa. It marks a turning point, shifting the ecosystem from informal curiosity to structured growth. Combining clarity with educational investment and digital asset integration will lay the foundation for a compliant, scalable, and inclusive digital economy.

Change is here, and many peers are accommodating the technology as soon as possible.

Nigeria recently shifted its stance from banning crypto to accommodating it and even launching a stablecoin, cNGN stablecoin. Kenya scrapping its 3% tax on crypto assets, fearing it would stifle growth, and force its traders underground.

South Africa has moved to regulate the space, and many exchanges are lining up to offer their services with the added bonus of trust.

For Zanzibar, partnering with Africa’s leading stablecoin providers isn’t strategic. It’s a necessity to keep up with the changing tides.

Tether’s African Strategy: Education as the Growth Engine

Blockchain education program, stablecoin adoption, Tether in Africa, stablecoins for financial inclusion,  government blockchain projects, Blockchain workshops for developers, blockchain in Zanzibar.

CHECK OUT:How Tether and Shiga Digital Are Building a Blockchain-Powered Financial Future.

This MoU isn’t a first for Tether. The stablecoin provider has made it its mission to expand throughout Africa. Stablecoins for financial inclusion are but a start. Recent initiatives talk about how Tether intends to create an ecosystem of blockchain developers all over Africa.

Some noteworthy mentions include:

• Guinea (Feb 2025): Partnered with the national government on blockchain curricula for “Innovation City,” targeting public/private sector upskilling.
• Quidax Collaboration: Empowered 15,000+ Nigerians and Ghanaians via financial literacy campaigns and Bitcoin workshops.
• Yellow Card Initiative: Drove youth-focused stablecoin adoption through campus tours in Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana, demystifying USD₮ for students.
• Academic Alliances: Teamed with Africa Blockchain Institute (Ivory Coast) and NODO for university seminars and community AMAs.

Tether in Africa Fostering Growth with Education

The MoU provides a pre-defined vision for Zanzibar, fostering blockchain education programs, stablecoin integration and efficient ecosystem building.

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, stated:

“This MOU with the Zanzibar eGovernment Authority reflects our commitment to advancing financial literacy and sustainable blockchain innovation in Africa,”

Tether’s model, pairing education with practical utility—creates fertile ground for scalable solutions. Its success mainly hinges on how it deploys these strategies, but if properly executed, Zanzibar could swiftly rise as a competitor to Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

Mr Said emphasized this, stating:

“This MOU with Tether provides us access to the future as we could leverage Tether’s support in enabling public participation, digital assets education, and catalyzing legal and institutional reforms towards inclusion.”

For Zanzibar, that means transforming from an archipelago reliant on tourism to a beacon of African financial innovation—one blockchain-literate citizen at a time.