Tether Joins $81M Funding Round for Italian Industrial Robot Company

TLDR

• Tether contributed to a €70 million ($81 million) investment in Generative Bionics, an Italian company creating humanoid robots for industrial settings
• The robots will handle high-risk tasks in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and retail environments starting in early 2026
• Generative Bionics spun out from the Italian Institute of Technology and specializes in physical AI technology
• Tether’s investment strategy includes AI, robotics, and infrastructure projects across multiple sectors
• The funding round included AMD Ventures, CDP Venture Capital, and other major investors

Stablecoin issuer Tether has participated in a €70 million funding round for Generative Bionics, an Italian artificial intelligence company developing humanoid robots for industrial applications. The $81 million investment round was announced on Monday.

CDP Venture Capital’s AI fund led the funding round. Other participants included AMD Ventures, Duferco, Eni Next, and RoboIT alongside Tether.

Generative Bionics emerged as a spinoff from the Italian Institute of Technology. The startup is one year old and focuses on physical AI systems designed for real-world industrial environments.

The company builds humanoid robots capable of performing tasks in spaces designed for human workers. These robots can handle lifting, carrying, and repetitive work that standard robotic systems cannot manage effectively.

Robot Deployment Plans

Generative Bionics plans to launch its first production-ready humanoid systems in early 2026. The company has identified several key industries for initial deployment.

Target sectors include manufacturing facilities, logistics operations, healthcare settings, and retail locations. The robots are specifically engineered to take on dangerous and physically demanding jobs.

According to Tether, the investment will fund development of physical AI systems and edge AI solutions. The capital will also accelerate industrial testing of the humanoid platform.

The funding supports construction of Generative Bionics’ first production facility. Money will also help integrate the robots into existing industrial ecosystems.

Tether’s Technology Investment Focus

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino characterized the investment as part of a broader strategy focused on digital and physical infrastructure. The company aims to support technologies that reduce dependence on centralized tech platforms.

Tether organizes its investments across five categories: finance, power, data, education, and evolution. The Generative Bionics investment falls under the evolution category, which includes AI and robotics projects.

The stablecoin company has expanded its AI portfolio in recent months. Reports in November indicated Tether was considering a $1.15 billion investment in German robotics company Neura at a $10 billion valuation.

Additional AI Investments

Tether has made multiple AI-related investments this year. The company backed Blackrock Neurotech, which develops brain-computer interface technology.

Tether also partnered with Northern Data and Rumble on a major AI infrastructure project. The collaboration will deploy a 20,000-GPU global compute network for privacy-focused AI development.

The investment announcement followed S&P Global’s decision to downgrade USDT’s stability rating to its lowest level. The credit rating agency cited concerns about Tether’s growing bitcoin holdings and limited investment disclosures.

Tether disputed S&P Global’s assessment. The company called the rating framework outdated and defended its investment strategy.

Generative Bionics will use the new funding to complete development of its humanoid platform and begin industrial validation programs across multiple sectors in 2026.