Tether’s $120M+ Startup Spree: CEO Ardoino Reveals Aggressive Expansion Beyond Stablecoins

Tether isn't just printing USDT—it's printing equity checks. The stablecoin giant's CEO Paolo Ardoino just dropped a bombshell: their venture arm now holds stakes in over 120 companies. Talk about putting your money where your mouth is.

From blockchain infra to AI—the playbook's clear

While Ardoino played coy on specific names, the numbers tell the story. That's nine-figures worth of bets placed while regulators were busy staring at their USDT spreadsheets. The strategy? Vertical integration meets 'throw spaghetti at the Web3 wall.'

Because nothing says 'stable' like a VC portfolio

Here's the kicker—Tether's making moves that would make SoftBank blush, all while maintaining that 1:1 peg. Maybe they've cracked the ultimate hedge: back your stablecoin with... other startups? (Cue nervous banker laughter.) One thing's certain—the crypto kraken isn't just swimming in circles anymore.

Tether’s 2025 investment streak

In February, the stablecoin issuer announced a strategic investment in self-custodial crypto wallet Zengo to enhance the security and accessibility of blockchain tools. Ardoino said the investment aligns with the stablecoin firm’s commitment to empowering users by providing reliable, secure, and accessible tools.

Building on this, Tether backed Chile-based crypto exchange Orionx with fresh capital to scale its stablecoin-powered infrastructure in June. That same month, the venture arm acquired a 31.9% stake in Canadian gold mining firm Elemental Altus Royalties, purchasing 78.4 million shares from La Mancha Investments. The deal also includes an option to purchase an additional 34.4 million shares later this year.

Alongside these ventures, Tether has continued to build its reserves, holding more than 100,000 Bitcoin and 80 tons of physical gold to support its gold-backed token, XAUT.