Tether invests $20 million in Brazil's Mercado Bitcoin

Stablecoin issuer Tether has invested $20 million in Brazil's Mercado Bitcoin, a major digital asset platform, to accelerate the development of tokenized financial products and blockchain-based payment infrastructure across Latin America. The strategic investment, announced on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, is part of a broader financing round for the São Paulo-based company.

Mercado Bitcoin, founded in 2013, has evolved from a cryptocurrency exchange into a comprehensive financial services provider. The platform currently serves 4.5 million users and has issued over 2 billion Brazilian reais (approximately $370 million) in tokenized assets. It operates under more than 10 regulatory licenses in Brazil and Europe, including a payment institution authorization from Brazil's central bank.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino stated the investment aligns with the company's mission to build accessible and efficient financial infrastructure. He described Mercado Bitcoin as a regulated platform that successfully combines tokenization capabilities with integrated financial services at scale.

The new capital will be deployed to expand Mercado Bitcoin's payments infrastructure, develop its lending and credit...