Tether acquires 70% stake in South America’s Adecoagro in major real-world asset move

Tether (USDT) has acquired a 70% stake in South American renewable energy and sustainable agriculture firm Adecoagro.

The stablecoin giant confirmed the acquisition today, 30 April, representing a massive leap in its long-term strategy to diversify into real-world infrastructure, covering agriculture, communications, energy, and data.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino commented:

Building on a $100M foundation

Tether began engaging with Adecoagro in September 2024 when it purchased a 9.8% stake worth $100 million.

The latest acquisition underscores the firm’s intent to leverage its tech expertise and funds to invest in enterprises that support real-world sustainability.

The initial investment laid the foundation for today’s massive position. The early funding allowed Tether to gradually analyze Adecoagro’s operations and align with its sustainability objectives.

With majority ownership, Tether can determine Adecoagro’s future, which prioritizes developing markets, recreating farming practices, and renewable energy.

The press release indicated:

The expansion represents the growing trend of blockchain firms venturing outside the digital space.

They are exploring utilizing their technology and capital to decipher real-world challenges.

Tether's latest acquisition confirms the stablecoin issuer’s dedication to bridging DeFi with impactful economic undertakings.

Moreover, the massive bet on Adecoagro reflects Tether’s trust that long-term value spans beyond digital assets, extending to food security, regional investment, and clean energy.

Tether gold reserves surpass 7.7 tons

Tether’s Adecoagro acquisition comes after the former published its financial report on 28 April.

The details showed that 246,524.33 XAUT tokens circulated as of 31 March.

That amounts to more than 7.7 tons of gold or 246,524.33 ounces, as each token is tied 1:1 to an ounce of gold in Swiss vaults.

Moreover, the firm has sold 180,777.07 of the minted 246,524.33 XAUT, with the remaining 65,747.26 XAUT available for sale.

Tether’s financial statement matches the broad market trends.

Data from the World Gold Council shows that gold demand increased by 1% YoY in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Furthermore, central bank purchases hit 1,044.6 metric tons last year, with 332.0 acquired in Q4.