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Tether, the issuer of USDT stablecoin, announced Friday it plans to acquire Italian football club Juventus FC in a deal that could total $1 billion.
The company proposes to purchase Exor’s 65.4% majority stake in an all-cash transaction, followed by a tender offer for remaining shares to bring its ownership to 100%.
If successful, Tether intends to follow up with a public tender offer for the remaining shares of the Turin-based club, bringing its ownership to 100%. The company said it is “prepared to invest $1 billion” into Juventus to strengthen its competitiveness on and off the pitch.
Tether’s proposal for Juventus comes as the company diversifies beyond digital assets into artificial intelligence, payments, robotics, and now professional sports. The Tether Juventus bid signals an ambitious attempt to merge the worlds of stablecoin finance and European football tradition.
“Our interest in Juventus comes from deep admiration and respect,” — Paolo Ardoino, CEO, Tether.
“Tether is in a position of strong financial health and intends to support Juventus with stable capital and a long horizon,” Ardoino said in a statement Friday, describing the deal as both a strategic and emotional investment.
Tether currently owns more than 10% of Juventus shares, but its latest move would grant full control of the club. The football giant, listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, has a market capitalization of approximately $925 million based on Friday’s closing price.
The Tether Juventus bid thus represents a substantial premium and underscores Tether’s confidence in its financial muscle and long-term strategic vision.
Tether’s staggering profitability makes its Juventus ambitions credible. The firm reported net profits exceeding $10 billion this year, driven largely by yields from U.S. Treasury bills backing its USDT reserves. The stablecoin itself, USDT, commands a $186 billion market capitalization, making it the dominant asset in the global stablecoin market.
Tether’s expansion strategy has recently extended into emerging economies, where USDT is widely used for payments and savings amid currency volatility. The Tether Juventus bid now adds another dimension to that global presence — visibility through sport, particularly in Europe’s lucrative football ecosystem.
The company also revealed that it holds 116 tons of gold, surpassing the reserves of several mid-sized nations. With such resources, the $1 billion commitment to Juventus, while massive in football terms, represents a manageable diversification for Tether’s balance sheet.
Market reaction was swift: Juventus’ fan crypto token, JUV, surged more than 30% following the announcement, reflecting renewed optimism among supporters and investors about the club’s financial future under Tether’s stewardship.
Juventus FC, a symbol of Italian football heritage, has seen fluctuating fortunes in recent years following regulatory investigations and sporting setbacks. The Tether Juventus bid could offer the club a path to renewed stability, backed by consistent digital-era capital.
The Tether Juventus bid is more than a corporate acquisition; it represents a convergence of two powerful global industries — blockchain finance and professional sports.
For investors, it highlights Tether’s financial dominance and its ability to mobilize liquidity at scale. For policymakers, it raises questions about the evolving role of crypto-backed entities in traditional markets.
As Tether deepens its roots beyond digital assets, CEO Paolo Ardoino’s statement captures the sentiment driving the company’s new chapter: “We want to build long-term value — for Juventus, for fans, and for the broader global community that believes in innovation and stability.”
If completed, the Tether Juventus bid could mark one of the most significant intersections between cryptocurrency and sport to date, potentially setting a precedent for future cross-sector acquisitions.
