Tether Considers $1.16 Billion Investment in Germany’s Neura Robotics

Tether is exploring a significant investment opportunity in Neura Robotics, a German robotics firm, potentially participating in a funding round of up to $1.16 billion, according to a report by the Financial Times.

Key Takeaways:

Potential Investment: Tether is looking into a $1.16 billion stake in Neura Robotics, potentially valuing the startup between $9.29 billion and $11.6 billion.
Remarkable Profits: Tether generated over $10 billion in profits this year and is diversifying into AI, robotics, data centers, mining, and commodity lending.
Decentralized Innovation: CEO Paolo Ardoino supports initiatives in decentralized AI and is scaling Tether's commodities lending effort, which currently stands at $1.5 billion.

Sources revealed that this investment could value the rapidly evolving startup at between $9.29 billion and $11.6 billion.

Tether Considers $1.16 billion Investment in Germany’s Neura Robotics

Tether's Recent Profit Surge and Expansion Plans

Tether, the leading issuer of stablecoins, is broadening its investment portfolio as profits from its USDT issuance surge.

In the first three quarters of the year, Tether generated over $10 billion in profits, following a solid performance in 2024. This significant cash flow has enabled the company to expand its operations into sectors such as artificial intelligence, energy infrastructure, data centers, and Bitcoin mining, which forms part of a strategic plan to diversify beyond its core stablecoin operations.

Neura Robotics aligns perfectly with Tether's growth strategy. The company aims to launch its first humanoid robot, initially catering to industrial clients before eventually entering the consumer market. Neura's goal is to produce 5 million units by the year 2030 and has referred to this ambition as creating an “iPhone moment” for the robotics industry.

In its January funding round, Neura Robotics secured nearly $140 million from investors including C4 Ventures, BlueCrest, Lingotto, and the Volvo Cars Tech Fund. If the investment with Tether proceeds, Neura will be in direct competition with Elon Musk’s Tesla, which is also working towards mass-producing versatile robots.

Tether's CEO, Paolo Ardoino, is increasingly interested in decentralized AI, leading internal research through a specialized division focused on open-source, peer-to-peer machine learning under the name “Tether AI.” Additionally, Tether is aggressively expanding its commodity trade lending activities, with a reported $1.5 billion in credit now available, directly challenging traditional banks.

Ardoino has stated that Tether aims to extend its lending operations to agricultural sectors including oil, cotton, and wheat, providing loans in both US dollars and USDT—the stablecoin backed by U.S. Treasuries and precious metals. Despite being smaller than leading banks, Tether's nearly $200 billion in reserves offers it substantial lending capabilities.

Analyst Insights: Tether’s Potential for Increased Profitability

At present, Tether is on an impressive trajectory, with projections indicating the possibility of generating around $15 billion this year alone.

Matt Houga, chief investment officer at Bitwise, has suggested that Tether may soon become the world’s most profitable company, potentially surpassing Saudi Aramco. Currently, Tether is the third-largest digital asset, boasting a market capitalization of $183.8 billion—an increase of 50% from last year.

While Tether maintains robust cash reserves, recent reports indicate that the company might seek an additional $20 billion in capital for a 3% equity stake. Achieving this would assign Tether a valuation close to $500 billion, positioning it above companies like Netflix and Samsung and nearing major financial services entities like Mastercard.

Simultaneously, Tether is expanding its holdings in precious metals, reporting that its gold reserves have now surpassed $12 billion.