Key Takeaways
- • Tether, the issuer of the world's largest stablecoin USDT, led a $14 million Series A funding round for Argentine crypto platform Belo, signaling continued expansion into Latin American payment infrastructure.
- • Belo plans to use Series A proceeds to integrate payments, savings, and cryptocurrency into a unified application while expanding to seven additional countries this year (Peru, Bolivia, and others) beyond its current presence in Argentina and Brazil.
- • Stablecoin transaction volumes surged 72% year-over-year to $33 trillion in 2025, with Tether positioning itself as a critical distribution partner for USDT adoption at both client-facing and infrastructure levels.
- • Belo CEO Manuel Beaudroit stated that Tether views the platform as a vehicle to drive USDT adoption across institutional and consumer channels, leveraging Belo's regional footprint as a distribution advantage.
- • This investment extends Tether's diversified venture strategy beyond crypto, following the firm's 2025 acquisition of a controlling stake in South American agricultural firm Adecoagro.
Summary
Tether has deepened its Latin American footprint through a $14 million Series A investment in Argentine cryptocurrency platform Belo, according to Bloomberg. The stablecoin giant led the funding round alongside co-investors Titan Fund, The Venture City, Mindset Ventures, and G2. The transaction reflects Tether's strategic shift toward building distribution channels for USDT, the world's largest stablecoin by transaction volume.
Belo CEO Manuel Beaudroit characterized Tether's involvement as a strategic partnership centered on driving USDT adoption. "Tether is looking for distribution and they see Belo as a player that can help strongly push the use of USDT, both in the client-facing level and in the infrastructure level," Beaudroit stated in an interview. The platform currently operates in Argentina and Brazil, with plans to expand into seven additional countries during 2026, including Peru and Bolivia.
The funding round carries broader significance given the explosive growth in stablecoin adoption. Total stablecoin transaction volumes reached $33 trillion in 2025, up 72% from the prior year, according to data from Artemis. Stablecoins, which are cryptocurrencies pegged to established assets such as the U.S. dollar, are increasingly recognized as payment infrastructure rather than speculative assets.
Belo will allocate Series A proceeds toward product development and headcount expansion. The platform plans to integrate payments, savings, and crypto functionality into a single application while increasing its workforce by approximately 20%. The funding announcement did not disclose Belo's Series A valuation.
Tether's Belo investment is part of a broader strategy of geographic and sectoral diversification. In 2025, the firm acquired a controlling stake in Adecoagro, a South American agricultural company, expanding its portfolio beyond cryptocurrency into tangible assets. This investment pattern underscores Tether's positioning as both a financial infrastructure provider and a venture investor with regional strategic interests.
Belo CEO Manuel Beaudroit characterized Tether's involvement as a strategic partnership centered on driving USDT adoption. "Tether is looking for distribution and they see Belo as a player that can help strongly push the use of USDT, both in the client-facing level and in the infrastructure level," Beaudroit stated in an interview. The platform currently operates in Argentina and Brazil, with plans to expand into seven additional countries during 2026, including Peru and Bolivia.
The funding round carries broader significance given the explosive growth in stablecoin adoption. Total stablecoin transaction volumes reached $33 trillion in 2025, up 72% from the prior year, according to data from Artemis. Stablecoins, which are cryptocurrencies pegged to established assets such as the U.S. dollar, are increasingly recognized as payment infrastructure rather than speculative assets.
Belo will allocate Series A proceeds toward product development and headcount expansion. The platform plans to integrate payments, savings, and crypto functionality into a single application while increasing its workforce by approximately 20%. The funding announcement did not disclose Belo's Series A valuation.
Tether's Belo investment is part of a broader strategy of geographic and sectoral diversification. In 2025, the firm acquired a controlling stake in Adecoagro, a South American agricultural company, expanding its portfolio beyond cryptocurrency into tangible assets. This investment pattern underscores Tether's positioning as both a financial infrastructure provider and a venture investor with regional strategic interests.
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