TLDR
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Tether invests $20M in Mercado Bitcoin to expand on-chain finance.
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Mercado Bitcoin will grow tokenized assets and blockchain payments.
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Brazil’s digital finance market gains fresh support from Tether.
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Funding targets lending, credit, and on-chain capital markets growth.
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Deal extends Tether’s strategy beyond its core stablecoin business.
Tether has invested $20 million in Mercado Bitcoin to expand on-chain finance across Brazil and wider Latin America. The deal supports tokenized assets, blockchain payments, lending, and on-chain capital markets. It also strengthens Brazil’s position in regulated digital finance.
Tether Backs Mercado Bitcoin’s On-Chain Expansion
The funding forms part of a strategic growth financing round for Mercado Bitcoin. Tether said the investment supports open and efficient financial infrastructure in high-growth markets. The move also fits its wider push beyond stablecoin issuance.
Mercado Bitcoin started in São Paulo in 2013 as a digital asset exchange. Since then, it has expanded into a full-stack on-chain financial services platform. Its business now covers trading, tokenized products, payments, lending, and cross-border services.
The company serves 4.5 million users and has issued over R$2 billion in tokenized assets. It also holds more than 10 licenses across Brazil and Europe. These include a payment institution license from the Central Bank of Brazil.
Brazil Gains Ground in Tokenized Finance
Brazil has become a major market for digital payments and blockchain-based finance. Strong digital adoption, clear regulation, and Pix have supported faster financial innovation. As a result, companies now see Brazil as a key market for tokenized services.
Tether said Mercado Bitcoin combines regulatory depth with large-scale blockchain infrastructure. The company also links blockchain-native products with regulated financial services. Therefore, the investment gives Tether stronger exposure to Latin America’s on-chain finance market.
Mercado Bitcoin plans to use the capital across several growth areas. It will expand payments infrastructure and scale tokenized investment products. It will also grow lending, credit services, and on-chain capital market tools.
Tether Extends Its Broader Investment Strategy
The deal adds to Tether’s recent investments outside its core stablecoin business. In June, Tether moved to lead major funding for German robotics firm NEURA Robotics. It also signed a tokenization and blockchain education agreement in Dubai.
The company has also adjusted parts of its product strategy. Tether announced plans to discontinue Alloy by Tether and the aUSDT token. Meanwhile, it confirmed plans to bring USDT back to Bitcoin through the RGB protocol.
Neither Tether nor Mercado Bitcoin disclosed the round’s valuation or total size. However, Tether described the deal as a long-term strategic investment. The funding now supports Mercado Bitcoin’s next growth phase across Brazil and international markets.
