Overview
- Tether confirmed on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 that it will invest $20 million in a strategic growth financing round for Mercado Bitcoin.
- Mercado Bitcoin said it will deploy the capital to expand payments rails, scale tokenized investment products, grow lending and credit services, and advance on‑chain capital markets as it expands abroad.
- The company serves about 4.5 million users and holds more than 10 regulatory licenses, including a Payment Institution license from Brazil’s central bank, which supports its regulated on‑chain platform.
- The deal reflects Tether’s broader move to back licensed regional infrastructure rather than rely solely on USDT growth after several EEA platforms restricted USDT following MiCA’s July 1, 2026 transition.
- The investment could accelerate everyday use of tokenized assets and stablecoin payments in Brazil by linking Mercado Bitcoin’s services to local systems like Pix and by widening retail credit and cross‑border payment options.