Tether is investing $20 million in Brazilian crypto platform Mercado Bitcoin as part of a strategic financing round aimed at expanding onchain financial infrastructure across Latin America. The investment will support Mercado Bitcoin's growth in tokenization, payments, lending, credit, and capital markets. Brazil has become a key market for stablecoin adoption due to its large retail user base, active digital payments system, and growing regulatory framework for crypto and tokenized finance.
Tether Commits $20 Million to Mercado Bitcoin Expansion
The deal gives Tether a deeper position in Brazil, one of Latin America's largest and most active digital asset markets. It fits the stablecoin issuer's strategy of using profits to back companies building blockchain-based financial infrastructure across payments, remittances, tokenization, and settlement.
Mercado Bitcoin, founded in 2013 as a crypto exchange, has expanded into a broader digital financial services platform. The company offers tokenized investment products, stablecoin payments, cross-border banking infrastructure, and regulated financial services. Mercado Bitcoin said it will use the new capital to expand payments infrastructure, add more tokenized offerings, develop lending and credit products, and support its onchain capital markets strategy.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said Mercado Bitcoin has built one of Latin America's most comprehensive regulated onchain financial platforms, citing its licenses, tokenization infrastructure, and integrated financial services.
Mercado Bitcoin's Platform and User Metrics
Mercado Bitcoin said it serves more than 4.5 million users and has issued more than 2 billion Brazilian reais, or about $370 million, in tokenized assets. The company holds nearly a dozen regulatory licenses across Brazil and Europe. Those licenses include a payment institution license from Brazil's central bank.
In February, the company said it had deployed more than $20 million in tokenized private credit on Rootstock, a Bitcoin sidechain. The platform's expansion beyond exchange activity reflects a wider shift in Latin America's crypto market, where platforms that began with spot trading are now moving into credit, tokenized private assets, payment rails, and cross-border settlement.
Brazil's Stablecoin Infrastructure and PIX Integration
Last month, Tether-backed payments app Oobit integrated Brazil's PIX instant payment network, allowing users to deposit reais, hold funds in USDT, and spend through PIX. The payment system serves roughly 170 million users, making it one of the most important financial rails in the country.
Stablecoins already play an important role in Brazil's digital asset flows, especially for users seeking dollar exposure, payments access, and faster settlement. The integration shows that a stablecoin issuer does not need to replace domestic payment systems to grow. It can connect stablecoin balances to existing payment rails and make crypto-based settlement easier for users who already rely on instant payments in everyday transactions.
Tether's Recent Investment Activities in 2026
Tether issues USDT, the world's largest stablecoin, with about $184 billion in circulation. The company reported approximately $1.04 billion in net profit in the first quarter of 2026 and has been using part of those profits for strategic investments.
In April, Tether participated in a $134 million funding round for Stablecoin Development Corporation, a NYSE American-traded company focused on expanding stablecoin access and digital asset infrastructure. A month later, it invested in remittance platform LemFi to support USDT integration as a settlement layer for cross-border payments across Africa and Asia.
Tether has also announced plans with the Government of Georgia to launch a stablecoin pegged to the Georgian lari under the country's digital asset framework. Beyond stablecoin-related initiatives, the company has invested in artificial intelligence, energy, biotechnology, and digital media through its investment arm.
FAQ
What is the size of Tether's investment in Mercado Bitcoin?
Tether is investing $20 million in Mercado Bitcoin as part of a strategic financing round aimed at expanding onchain financial infrastructure across Latin America.
How many users does Mercado Bitcoin serve?
Mercado Bitcoin said it serves more than 4.5 million users and has issued more than 2 billion Brazilian reais, or about $370 million, in tokenized assets. The company holds nearly a dozen regulatory licenses across Brazil and Europe, including a payment institution license from Brazil's central bank.
What was Tether's net profit in the first quarter of 2026?
Tether reported approximately $1.04 billion in net profit in the first quarter of 2026. The company has been using part of those profits for strategic investments in companies building blockchain-based financial infrastructure.
