Tether, the issuer of the popular USDT stablecoin, has invested $100 million in Adecoagro, acquiring a 9.8% stake. Adecoagro is a key player in Latin America’s agricultural sector, operating extensively in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
Adecoagro: Key Player in Agriculture
Adecoagro is a leading milk producer in Argentina and manages over 193,000 hectares of sugarcane in Brazil, producing refined sugar and ethanol. Founded in 2002, the company now processes 550,000 liters of milk daily at its Buenos Aires plant and expanded into the sugar, ethanol, and energy sectors in Brazil starting in 2005.
Tether's Investment Strategy
This investment is part of Tether’s broader strategy to explore opportunities beyond cryptocurrency. Historically, Tether has invested in various sectors, including green energy, Bitcoin mining, artificial intelligence, and education. By venturing into agriculture, Tether aims to mitigate risks associated with its core business of stablecoin issuance and enhance its financial stability through diversified investments. In its filing, Tether disclosed that the $100 million investment was funded from its own working capital. The acquisition gives Tether ownership of 10,048,249 shares of Adecoagro, representing nearly 10% of the company’s outstanding common shares.
Future Plans and New Ventures
Alongside this agricultural investment, Tether plans to launch a new stablecoin pegged to the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED). This new stablecoin will be developed in partnership with Phoenix Group and Green Acorn Investments and will be backed by reserves from the UAE. Tether’s USDT remains the largest stablecoin by market capitalization, valued at over $118 billion according to CoinMarketCap.
The investment in Adecoagro and the launch of a new stablecoin demonstrate Tether's commitment to diversifying its assets and seeking new opportunities beyond the cryptocurrency sector.
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