Stablecoin issuer Tether is investing $20 million in Mercado Bitcoin, a regulated Brazilian crypto platform with 4.5 million users. The strategic funding aims to accelerate on-chain financial services like payments and tokenization across Latin America. The deal is part of Tether's broader strategy to partner with regulated firms in high-growth markets to expand the use of its USDT stablecoin.
Tether investment in Mercado Bitcoin
- ▪Mercado Bitcoin will use the capital to expand its payments infrastructure, tokenized offerings, lending services, and on-chain capital markets
- ▪Tether invested $20 million in Brazilian crypto platform Mercado Bitcoin on July 7, 2026
- ▪The investment is part of a strategic growth financing round to accelerate on-chain financial infrastructure across Latin America
Mercado Bitcoin platform operations
- ▪The platform serves 4.5 million users and holds over 10 regulatory licenses across Brazil and Europe
- ▪Founded in 2013, Mercado Bitcoin is a regulated on-chain financial platform based in São Paulo, Brazil
- ▪Mercado Bitcoin has issued over R$2 billion (Brazilian reais) in tokenized assets
- ▪Mercado Bitcoin is a key regional partner for enterprise blockchain firm Ripple, using its technology for cross-border payments
Tether distribution strategy
- ▪In 2026, Tether also invested in Abu Dhabi tokenization firm KAIO and cross-border payments app LemFi
- ▪Tether-backed payments app Oobit recently integrated Pix, Brazil’s instant payment network serving roughly 170 million users
- ▪Tether's investment strategy focuses on supporting regulated partners that can distribute its USDT stablecoin to mainstream users
Tether financial position
- ▪Tether is the issuer of USDT, the world's largest stablecoin
- ▪The company reported approximately $1.04 billion in net profit for Q1 2026 and held excess reserves of $8.23 billion as of March 31
Story comments
Loading comments…