Tether Joins €70 Million Funding Round for High-Risk Industrial Humanoids

TLDR

• Tether joins €70M funding round to support humanoid robots for high-risk tasks.
• Generative Bionics plans industrial humanoids for use in manufacturing and logistics.
• Tether shifts focus towards digital and physical infrastructure, including AI.
• Generative Bionics’ humanoids are set for deployment in 2026 across key sectors.

Tether, a prominent stablecoin issuer, is expanding its investment portfolio into robotics and AI with a €70 million funding round for Generative Bionics. The new company, spun off from the Italian Institute of Technology, is developing humanoid robots designed to perform physically demanding and dangerous tasks within industries such as manufacturing and logistics.

Investment from Key Players

The funding round includes several high-profile investors, such as AMD Ventures and the Artificial Intelligence Fund backed by the Italian government. Tether’s participation highlights its shift towards backing innovative technologies that combine digital and physical infrastructure. According to Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, the investment is aligned with the company’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on centralized systems controlled by major tech firms.

Ardoino noted that Generative Bionics’ focus on industrial humanoids fits with Tether’s vision of investing in technologies that contribute to societal resilience and real-world innovation. This move comes as Tether faces increasing scrutiny regarding its USDT stablecoin, with recent downgrades from S&P Global regarding the coin’s stability.

Generative Bionics’ Humanoid Robots for Industrial Use

Generative Bionics’ goal is to create humanoid robots capable of performing tasks that are difficult or unsafe for humans, particularly in high-risk environments. These robots are designed to lift, haul, and carry out repetitive activities, roles traditionally managed by robotic arms but which humanoids could perform more effectively in human-centric spaces. The first generation of these robots is slated for deployment in early 2026.

The company plans to introduce the robots to various sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and retail. These industries have long been seeking solutions to manage tasks like heavy lifting and handling hazardous materials, which are often performed by human workers under unsafe conditions. Generative Bionics’ humanoids aim to improve efficiency while mitigating risks for human workers in these environments.

Tether’s Broader Strategy and AI Focus

This investment underscores Tether’s broader strategy of expanding its influence beyond the stablecoin market into sectors such as artificial intelligence and robotics. Tether has already been involved in several AI projects, including funding for brain-computer interfaces and large-scale GPU infrastructure. This involvement in Generative Bionics is part of Tether’s ongoing efforts to diversify its investment portfolio, particularly in areas where AI technology can be integrated with physical infrastructure to improve productivity.

Tether’s support of Generative Bionics reflects its growing interest in technologies that aim to revolutionize industries through automation. The company’s backing of physical AI systems also echoes its commitment to supporting infrastructure projects that reduce dependence on large, centralized technology providers.

Tether’s Position Amid Scrutiny

Tether’s involvement in the funding round also follows recent concerns about the stability of its USDT stablecoin. S&P Global downgraded USDT’s stability score, citing Tether’s increasing exposure to bitcoin and other investments with limited transparency. Despite this downgrade, Tether has rejected the assessment, arguing that S&P’s framework is outdated and does not adequately reflect the company’s operations and financial model.

By diversifying into high-tech ventures like Generative Bionics, Tether aims to demonstrate its adaptability and resilience in the face of such scrutiny. The company’s broader investment strategy suggests a push to ensure that it remains a significant player in both the cryptocurrency and traditional technology markets.

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