Tether Invests in Fizen to Accelerate Stablecoin Payments and Self-Custody Solutions

Tether, the issuer behind USDT, the world’s most widely used stablecoin, has announced a strategic investment in Fizen Limited to bolster stablecoin adoption and self-custody solutions. While the April 15 deal’s financial details remain undisclosed, the move aligns with Tether’s broader vision of leveraging blockchain technology to enable financial inclusion across global markets.

Building Out Stablecoin Infrastructure

The investment will help Fizen expand its blockchain infrastructure while improving stablecoin interoperability across multiple networks. Fizen CEO Leo Vu emphasized how stablecoins and user-friendly self-custody can expedite global crypto payments:

“Stablecoins like USD₮ will undoubtedly drive crypto payments and financial inclusion worldwide. The technology infrastructure is already in place, but we lack consumer-friendly applications with intuitive UI/UX to accelerate mass integration.”

Under this new partnership, Tether and Fizen aim to roll out tools that let individuals easily store and transact with stablecoins—without the barriers posed by intricate paperwork or constrained financial services. Tether says the collaboration will further empower unbanked populations by making crypto-based financial services more accessible.

Streamlining Merchant Payments

Beyond individual users, Tether’s investment also aims to enhance merchant payment channels. This includes QR code and card reader support—reducing the need for specialized hardware. By offering integrated solutions with fiat settlements, retailers can seamlessly accept stablecoins without having to overhaul their existing infrastructure or processes.

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, said the move reflects Tether’s commitment to expanding real-world use cases for digital currencies:

“Fizen’s approach promotes financial independence by combining self-custody with easy-to-use payments… This partnership underlines our focus on bringing digital currencies into everyday transactions.”

Tether’s Investment Strategy

Tether’s investment in Fizen is part of a broader strategy where Tether channels its profits into “key sectors in the crypto space” and beyond. Over the past year, Tether has made multimillion-dollar investments in:

• Bitdeer (Bitcoin mining)
• Rumble (Media)
• Juventus (Football club)
• Adecoagro (Agriculture)
• Be Water (Italian production firm)

Despite branching into diverse industries, Tether maintains USDT at its core. As of April 2025, USDT remains the largest stablecoin globally, with a market cap of around $144 billion, according to CryptoSlate data. By supporting innovative startups like Fizen, Tether aims to fuel the next wave of stablecoin usage and self-sovereign finance solutions worldwide.