- Tether invested $20 million in Mercado Bitcoin to support payments, tokenization, lending, and on-chain capital markets.
- Mercado Bitcoin serves 4.5 million users and has issued over R$2 billion in tokenized assets under regulated licenses.
- The funding will accelerate Mercado Bitcoin’s expansion across Brazil while supporting international growth and partnerships.
Tether has invested $20 million in Mercado Bitcoin through a strategic financing round, expanding its presence in Latin America’s digital asset market. The announcement confirmed the funding will support Mercado Bitcoin’s blockchain financial infrastructure across Brazil and international markets. According to Tether, the investment targets regulated on-chain financial services as demand for tokenization and stablecoin payments continues to grow.
Mercado Bitcoin Expands Regulated Financial Services
Mercado Bitcoin said the new capital will strengthen several parts of its business. The company plans to expand payments infrastructure, tokenized investment products, lending services, and on-chain capital markets.
Founded in 2013, Mercado Bitcoin has grown from a cryptocurrency exchange into a broader financial services platform. Today, it provides trading infrastructure, stablecoin payments, banking services, cross-border transactions, and tokenized investment products.
According to Tether, Mercado Bitcoin now serves 4.5 million users. The company has also issued more than R$2 billion, or about $388 million, in tokenized assets.
Its regulated operations include more than 10 licenses across Brazil and Europe. Those approvals include a Payment Institution license from Banco Central do Brasil, alongside broker-dealer, securitization, and asset management capabilities.
Executives Outline Investment Strategy
Tether Chief Executive Officer Paolo Ardoino said Mercado Bitcoin has developed a regulated on-chain financial platform serving millions of users. He added that Brazil remains one of the company’s important markets for blockchain-based financial services.
Meanwhile, Mercado Bitcoin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Roberto Dagnoni said blockchain finance has already moved beyond early adoption. According to Dagnoni, the latest financing will support expansion across Brazil while advancing international growth initiatives.
Funding Targets Growth Across Markets
The companies said the financing will also support strategic partnerships and additional international expansion. Furthermore, Mercado Bitcoin intends to increase lending capacity while expanding tokenized investment offerings for retail and institutional clients.
According to Tether, the investment aligns with its strategy of supporting companies building regulated blockchain financial infrastructure. The company added that it continues focusing on businesses combining regulatory approvals, technology, and large-scale financial services as tokenization and stablecoins expand across global markets.
