Overview
- Tether and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime announced the collaboration on January 9, 2026 to curb digital asset crime and bolster cybersecurity across African markets.
- The initiative supports the UNODC Strategic Vision for Africa 2030, with Tether providing technical assistance to reinforce investigations and legal and financial frameworks.
- A youth-focused program in Senegal features virtual cybersecurity bootcamps, mentorship, and micro-grants backed by the Plan B Foundation and the City of Lugano.
- Support is being routed through the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking to NGOs serving survivors in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Uganda.
- The move follows coordinated operations that uncovered over $260 million in illicit crypto and fiat flows across the region, with specific funding levels and rollout timelines still to be detailed.