Tether’s $1.3 Billion Juventus Takeover Bid Rejected by Exor in Stunning Block

Stablecoin giant Tether just got red-carded by one of Europe's oldest financial dynasties.

The $1.3 Billion Play for a Football Empire

Tether, the company behind the world's largest stablecoin, made a formal bid to acquire Italian football powerhouse Juventus FC. The offer, reportedly valued at a staggering $1.3 billion, was presented to Exor, the Agnelli family's holding company and Juventus's controlling shareholder. The bid represented a bold move to bridge the worlds of digital assets and legacy sports branding.

Exor's Defensive Wall Holds Firm

Exor swiftly and decisively rejected the proposal. The holding company, which also controls stakes in Stellantis and Ferrari, gave no public reasoning for the rejection. Industry watchers speculate the move protects a century-old family asset from the perceived volatility and regulatory scrutiny of the crypto sector—a classic case of old money not trusting the new, no matter how many billions it's sitting on.

The rejection leaves Tether's ambitions for mainstream legitimacy through high-profile sports acquisitions temporarily on the bench. For now, the playbook for crypto firms looking to buy traditional prestige appears to need a serious rewrite. Sometimes, even a mountain of cash can't buy a seat at the old-guard table—especially when that cash is, technically, just very convincingly pegged IOUs.

TLDR

• Tether offered $1.3 billion in an all-cash deal to buy Exor’s 65.4% stake in Italian soccer club Juventus
• Exor’s board unanimously rejected the binding bid within 24 hours, stating it has no intention to sell
• Tether currently owns over 10% of Juventus and had promised an additional $1 billion investment if the deal went through
• The Agnelli family has controlled Juventus for over a century and remains committed to the club
• Juventus has required over $1 billion in capital injections over the past seven years due to financial struggles

Stablecoin issuer Tether’s attempt to take control of Italian soccer club Juventus ended quickly. The Agnelli family rejected the offer through their holding company Exor.

Exor’s board of directors turned down the binding all-cash bid on Saturday. The decision came just 24 hours after Tether publicly announced its offer.

Exor unanimously rejects Tether’s $1.3 billion bid to acquire Juventus football club

Stablecoin giant Tether's $1.3 billion offer to buy Italian football club Juventus $JUVE was rejected within just 24 hours after Italy's Agnelli family, through their holding company Exor,… pic.twitter.com/EYKVMJ7OA6

— Wizard (@TheWizardFi) December 14, 2025

Tether proposed to buy Exor’s 65.4% controlling stake in Juventus. The company offered €2.66 per share for the purchase.

This price represented a 21% premium over Juventus’s Friday closing price of €2.19. The total offer valued the club at approximately €1.1 billion, or $1.3 billion.

Exor stated it has “no intention of selling any of its shares in Juventus to a third party.” The statement specifically mentioned El Salvador-based Tether in its rejection.

The Agnelli family has owned Juventus for over a century. Their business interests include the Fiat motor company through various holdings.

Tether’s Existing Stake and Investment Plans

Tether first bought a minority stake in Juventus in February 2025. The company increased its holding to over 10% by April.

Tether now holds an 11.53% stake in the club. This makes it the second-largest shareholder behind Exor.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino is a lifelong Juventus fan. He stated the club has “always been part of my life” when announcing the bid.

The company had promised to invest an additional €1 billion in the club’s development. This commitment was contingent on the acquisition being approved.

Tether also supported Dr. Francesco Garino as a board candidate. He joined the Juventus board in November.

Financial Challenges at Juventus

Juventus has faced ongoing financial difficulties in recent years. The club has posted recurring losses over multiple seasons.

The team has required more than €1 billion in capital injections over the past seven years. These funds have come primarily from the Agnelli family through Exor.

Juventus shares traded down 0.9% in Friday’s trading session to €2.19. The club’s total market capitalization stands around $988 million.

A token linked to the football club surged more than 32% in 24 hours after Tether announced its bid. The JUV token was trading at $0.83 at the time of reporting.

Tether reported net profits exceeding $10 billion in the first nine months of 2025. The company has been investing in artificial intelligence, robotics, and Bitcoin mining.

Last week, Tether joined a €70 million funding round for Italian humanoid robotics startup Generative Bionics. The rejection of the Juventus bid marks a setback for Tether’s diversification strategy beyond stablecoins.