Tether announced a strategic partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Jan. 9 to combat illicit cryptocurrency activity and bolster digital resilience across Africa. The collaboration targets scams, fraud and organized-crime uses of crypto while aligning with UNODC’s broader Strategic Vision for Africa 2030. By combining blockchain tools, education and targeted funding, the initiative aims to address immediate vulnerabilities and support local communities.
Tether and UNODC Partnership Overview
The partnership was presented as a coordinated effort to reduce illicit cryptocurrency flows and expand protections for affected communities. It explicitly supports UNODC’s Strategic Vision for Africa 2030 and seeks to use innovation and education as core instruments of intervention. The announcement connects operational measures by private-sector actors with UNODC programs, positioning both organizations to deliver training and grants across several projects; it also links to wider Tether operations discussed elsewhere on the site.
Africa’s Crypto Landscape and Challenges
Africa is described as the third-fastest-growing crypto region, yet this rapid uptake has outpaced safeguards in many places. Weak regulatory frameworks and limited cybersecurity infrastructure are named as key vulnerabilities that leave users and systems exposed to abuse and exploitation. The announcement cites an Interpol operation that uncovered $260 million in illicit crypto and fiat transactions across multiple African nations, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
Key Initiatives Under the Partnership
The collaboration bundles several targeted projects that combine education, victim support and research. These initiatives are presented as complementary efforts to reduce criminal use of digital assets while promoting inclusion and resilience.
- Senegal Project — a youth-focused cybersecurity education program featuring bootcamps, mentorship and microgrants to build local capacity.
- Africa Project — funding for civil society organizations in Senegal, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Ethiopia and Uganda to protect and assist victims of human trafficking.
- Papua New Guinea Project — partnerships with universities in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands to raise awareness of financial inclusion and fraud prevention, including student competitions for blockchain-based solutions.
Statements from Tether and UNODC Leaders
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino emphasized the need for cross-sector cooperation, saying: “Tackling human trafficking and preventing exploitation requires coordinated action across sectors.” His comment framed the partnership as a mix of innovation and education aimed at empowering communities. Sylvie Bertrand, UNODC regional representative for West and Central Africa, highlighted digital assets' potential, noting that “Digital assets are reshaping how the world engages with money and can unlock Africa’s development potential.”
Broader Goals and Impact
The stated goals include building more secure and resilient digital ecosystems and empowering communities through education and innovation. The projects combine direct victim support, capacity building for youth and academic collaboration to address both technical and social aspects of misuse. Together, these elements are framed as contributing to a longer-term vision for safer, more inclusive digital economies in the supported regions.
Why this matters
For miners and small operators, the partnership does not change day-to-day mining mechanics but signals growing attention to illicit crypto flows and related safeguards in regions where crypto use is expanding. Increased focus on education, victim support and technical resilience can reduce fraud and exploitation that indirectly affect market trust and local ecosystems. At the same time, coordinated public–private efforts make it more likely that compliance and law-enforcement attention will become a more prominent part of the crypto landscape globally.
What to do?
- Keep records: maintain clear logs of your transactions and payout flows to simplify compliance checks if needed.
- Harden security: secure mining rigs and wallets with up-to-date software, strong authentication and network protections.
- Stay informed: follow developments in regional regulation and international initiatives, including those on crypto regulation in Africa, to anticipate changes that could affect operations.
- Engage with community programs: consider participating in or supporting local cybersecurity education and awareness efforts that reduce fraud and improve resilience.
