Tether Blocked from Juventus Capital Raise Despite Growing Stake

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino revealed the stablecoin issuer has been barred from participating in Juventus Football Club’s ongoing capital increase, dashing hopes of crypto-fueled reinforcements for the storied Italian team. The exclusion comes despite Tether steadily accumulating Juventus shares, now holding 10.12% of issued stock.

"We simply cannot contribute unless society allows us," Ardoino stated on X, referencing the club’s refusal to grant participation rights in the €15-110 million fundraising launched in April. The executive’s wry remark about his ticket purchases being Juventus’ only accepted crypto-linked support underscores growing tensions between traditional sports finance and digital asset investors.

Tether’s deepening involvement began in February 2025 with an 8.2% acquisition, positioning the USDT issuer as a potential white knight for the struggling Serie A giant. The blocked capital injection represents a missed opportunity for Juventus to leverage crypto liquidity during its competitive rebuild.