Africa’s digital economy is growing at an extraordinary pace, with cryptocurrency adoption outshining that of most regions globally. According to data by Chainalysis, Sub-Saharan Africa is consistently ranking among the fastest-growing crypto markets, driven by remittances, inflation hedging, and financial inclusion gaps. Yet this growth has been mirrored by rising exposures to cybercrime, digital fraud, and illicit financial flows. Against this backdrop, Tether’s well thought out collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) marks a timely and consequential intervention, one that recognises that digital transformation that does not include digital protection risks deepening vulnerability rather than delivering opportunity.
The partnership is responsive to mounting evidence of systemic risk. A recent Interpol-led operation uncovered approximately $260 million in illicit crypto and fiat transactions across African countries, underscoring how organised criminal networks are exploiting regulatory gaps, low digital literacy, and uneven law enforcement capacity. Rather than framing blockchain and digital assets as the problem, the Tether–UNODC initiative utilises a more nuanced position: that emerging technologies, when collaborative with education, governance, and social protection, can become tools for resilience and not become vectors of harm.
From financial innovation to social infrastructure
At the center of the collaboration is alignment with the UNODC Strategic Vision for Africa 2030, which prioritises crime prevention, sustainable development and victim protection in an increasingly digital world. Tether’s role as the world’s largest stablecoin issuer is significant here. Stablecoins like USDT already play a de facto role in African economies, from facilitating cross-border trade in Nigeria to preserving value in inflation-prone contexts such as Malawi and Ethiopia.The challenge is not their presence, but rather the lack of public understanding and institutional capacity to properly manage associated risks.
Through investing in cybersecurity education and digital asset literacy, the collaboration moves beyond reactive enforcement toward preventive capacity-building. This approach mirrors lessons from a few other regions. For example in Southeast Asia, UNODC-supported cyber awareness programs have shown that early education and youth engagement really reduce susceptibility to online fraud and recruitment into cyber-enabled crime. Similarly applying this logic to Africa, where over 60 percent of the population is under 25, is not only strategic but it is also necessary.
Senegal as a pilot for youth-centered digital resilience
The Senegal program illustrates this philosophy in practice. By combining public cybersecurity education, intensive bootcamps, mentorship, and micro-grants, the initiative addresses multiple layers of the digital ecosystem simultaneously. It recognises that skills without opportunity breed frustration, while funding without knowledge invites exploitation. Senegal’s growing tech scene, anchored by Dakar’s emergence as a regional innovation hub, makes it an ideal testing ground for this integrated model.
Importantly, the focus on micro-grants signals an understanding of Africa’s entrepreneurial reality. Many young innovators operate outside formal venture capital pipelines, relying instead on modest seed funding to prototype solutions. By supporting grassroots innovation in cybersecurity and digital resilience, the program positions youth not merely as beneficiaries, but as first-line defenders of the digital economy.
Protecting the most vulnerable in a digital age
The collaboration addresses the grim intersection of technology and crime, specifically human trafficking, by moving beyond the focus on youth and innovation. Given that UNODC data confirms the escalating use of digital platforms for victim recruitment, control, and exploitation, the initiative provides direct funding and crucial support. This aid is channeled to civil society organisations operating in Senegal, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Uganda, strengthening frontline protection in regions where state resources are frequently insufficient.
This partnership is distinguished from purely technical cybersecurity initiatives by its acknowledgment that cybercrime poses a human threat, not solely a financial one. It specifically recognises the disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups, including women, migrants, and economically marginalised communities. This victim-centered approach aligns with global best practices, such as the joint programs between the European Union and UNODC, which successfully integrate digital forensics with comprehensive victim support frameworks.
Global reach, local relevance
The initiative’s scope extends its relevance through the inclusion of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Although geographically distinct, these nations mirror structural conditions found in many African economies: notably, large young populations, restricted access to financial services, and accelerated digital adoption driven by mobile technology. A practical approach, such as university-level blockchain competitions centered on financial literacy and fraud prevention, illustrates how specialised, local educational efforts can effectively translate complex technology into applicable, socially beneficial knowledge.
Development economists increasingly recognise that technology alone cannot guarantee inclusion; a viewpoint echoed by Paolo Ardoino, who stresses the importance of integrating innovation with education. This perspective is critical, particularly as UNODC Regional Representative Sylvie Bertrand highlighted, because digital assets can only fulfill their transformative potential for Africa’s development when they are securely and effectively integrated into well-governed digital ecosystems.
A model for future public–private partnerships
The partnership between Tether and the UNODC transcends a typical corporate social responsibility effort. Instead, it serves as a practical example of how public-private cooperation can effectively navigate the twin realities of Africa’s digital future: vast potential and considerable danger. This initiative establishes a replicable framework for harnessing private-sector innovation for the public good, by simultaneously focusing on skills development, human protection, and aligning institutional efforts.
As Africa continues its digital ascent, the question is no longer whether blockchain and digital assets will play a role, but how responsibly that role will be shaped. This partnership suggests that the most durable solutions lie not in restriction or hype, but in informed participation, human-centered safeguards, and shared accountability.
As Africa’s digital transition accelerates, the focus shifts from if blockchain and digital assets will be significant to how their role will be responsibly defined. This partnership highlights that sustainable progress is rooted not in fear or excessive promotion, but in educated engagement, protective measures centered on people, and mutual responsibility.
Sesona Mdlokovana
Associate at BRICS+ Consulting Group
Africa Specialist
