Tether dan UNODC Bentuk Aliansi Anti-Kejahatan Kripto di Afrika

Stablecoin issuer Tether, the world's largest by market capitalization, officially announced on January 9, 2026, a strategic partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to bolster efforts against cryptocurrency-related crime and enhance digital resilience across Africa. This collaboration emerges in response to the continent's rapid adoption of digital assets, which has concurrently presented new avenues for fraud, cyber-enabled scams, and organized crime, including terrorism financing and human trafficking.

Africa has rapidly become the third-fastest-growing cryptocurrency region globally, with Sub-Saharan Africa alone receiving over $205 billion in on-chain value between July 2024 and June 2025, marking a 52% increase from the previous year. This surge in adoption, driven by limited access to traditional banking, currency devaluation, and the need for cross-border payment solutions, has made the continent increasingly attractive to transnational criminal organizations. The urgency of this partnership was underscored by INTERPOL's Operation Catalyst, conducted between July and September 2025, which uncovered $260 million in illicit cryptocurrency and fiat currency across six African countries, leading to 83 arrests. Notably, these arrests included individuals charged with terrorism-related crimes, financial fraud, money laundering, cyber-enabled scams, and illegal use of virtual assets. A separate, massive cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme, affecting over 100,000 victims across at least 17 countries including Nigeria, Cameroon, and Kenya, reportedly siphoned an estimated $562 million, with some high-value crypto wallets linked to potential terrorism financing activities.

The partnership is designed to support UNODC's Strategic Vision for Africa 2030, aiming to strengthen crime prevention, enhance justice, and address organized crime. Tether's contribution includes technical expertise and resources to enhance cybersecurity awareness and improve legal and financial frameworks across African markets. Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, emphasized the necessity for coordinated action, stating, "Supporting victims of human trafficking and helping prevent exploitation requires coordinated action across sectors. Through our collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, we're backing initiatives that combine innovation and education to empower communities and help create safer, more inclusive opportunities for those who need them most." Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC, highlighted the transformative potential of digital assets and expressed excitement for a tripartite partnership involving the United Nations, the private sector, and Senegalese authorities to advance digital inclusion and secure digital ecosystems.

The collaboration focuses on three distinct initiatives. The Senegal Project aims to deliver multi-phase cybersecurity education for young people, featuring bootcamps and learning opportunities provided by the Plan B Foundation, a joint effort between Tether and the City of Lugano. Concurrently, the Africa Project will provide direct funding and support to civil society organizations across Senegal, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Uganda, offering assistance and protection to victims of human trafficking. These groups provide critical services such as emergency shelter, medical care, and vocational training, assisting over 450 human trafficking survivors. A third initiative, the Papua New Guinea Project, involves partnerships with local universities to raise youth awareness about financial inclusion and digital asset fraud prevention.

The increasing reliance on stablecoins like USDT in daily economic activities and cross-border payments in countries such as Nigeria further highlights the critical need for enhanced security and fraud prevention. Stablecoins accounted for 84% of all illicit transaction volume in 2025, demonstrating a significant shift by cybercriminals and sanctioned entities towards less volatile cryptocurrencies for illicit money flows. While illicit activity still represents less than 1% of all attributed crypto transaction volume, the absolute value has reached levels that pose significant consumer protection and national security concerns. This partnership between Tether and UNODC aims to mitigate these risks by combining blockchain technology expertise with established international networks, fostering a more secure, transparent, and resilient digital ecosystem in Africa and beyond. The long-term implications of this initiative extend to shaping regulatory cooperation, public education, and the development of robust anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism frameworks in a rapidly evolving digital financial landscape.