Tether Invests in Humanoid Robots. When Will They Be Launched

RBK-cryptoPublished on 2025-12-09Last updated on 2025-12-09

Abstract

Tether, the company behind the USDT stablecoin, has invested in humanoid robotics through a €70 million funding round in Generative Bionics, a spin-off from the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT). The startup is developing "physical AI" robots for industrial use and human interaction, leveraging two decades of IIT research. Tether stated these investments support technologies that "expand human potential and reduce reliance on centralized systems." The first industrial deployment programs for these robots are planned for early 2026, targeting manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and retail sectors. A full concept of the humanoid robot will be unveiled at the CES exhibition in Las Vegas. Tether investment portfolio also includes AI, financial services, energy, and biotech.

Tether, the company behind the largest stablecoin USDT, has announced investments in the development of humanoid robots through the Italian Institute of Technology's (IIT) spin-off startup Generative Bionics. The funding round raised €70 million.

Generative Bionics specializes in creating robots with "physical AI" designed for industrial use and human interaction. The startup utilizes two decades of IIT's robotics research, holds exclusive licenses to key technologies, and employs about 70 engineers and AI specialists from the Italian Institute of Technology, according to the statement.

Tether describes these investments as supporting new technologies that "expand human potential and reduce dependence on centralized systems controlled by large tech companies." The company noted it has previously invested in similar developments: Tether funds the creation of neural interfaces through Blackrock Neurotech, and together with Northern Data and Rumble, is deploying a global network for AI utilization.

Generative Bionics states that the first industrial deployment programs for robots are planned for early 2026. They will cover industries such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and retail. The first full-concept humanoid robot developed by the company will be presented at the CES international exhibition in Las Vegas (held annually in January).

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino stated that the company "is proud to support a team that turns Italy's scientific leadership into global industrial influence." Both Ardoino and another Tether founder, Giancarlo Devasini, are originally from Italy.

Beyond AI investments, Tether's portfolio includes investments in financial services, energy, biotechnology, education, and media across various countries. The company holds stakes in projects spanning commodities, money transfers, sports, and entertainment.

Only 7 native tokens have remained in profit since the beginning of the year. And it's not Bitcoin

Binance suspended an employee for insider trading. What happened

Strategy purchased the largest batch of Bitcoin since July

Related Questions

QWhat is the name of the startup that Tether invested in for humanoid robot development?

ATether invested in the startup called Generative Bionics, a spinoff of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT).

QHow much funding was raised in the investment round for Generative Bionics?

AThe funding round raised €70 million.

QWhat is the primary purpose of the 'physical AI' robots being developed by Generative Bionics?

AThe 'physical AI' robots are designed for industrial use and human interaction.

QWhen are the first industrial deployment programs for these robots planned, and which sectors will they cover?

AThe first industrial deployment programs are planned for early 2026 and will cover manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and commerce.

QWhere and when will the first full concept of the humanoid robot developed by Generative Bionics be presented?

AThe first full concept of the humanoid robot will be presented at the international CES exhibition in Las Vegas, which is held annually in January.

Related Reads

The Semiconductor Industry's Most Obscure Chokepoint Material: It Has Multiplied in Price Unnoticed, and China Just Banned Its Export

"Helium: The Silent Choke Point in Semiconductors" Helium, despite being the universe's second most abundant element, is critically scarce on Earth. It cannot be synthesized artificially and escapes Earth's gravity once released, making it a non-renewable resource. Yet, it is indispensable for advanced semiconductor manufacturing, requiring ultra-high purity (99.9999%) for processes like wafer etching, leak detection, and thermal management in lithography tools, with no viable substitutes. This low-profile resource, whose price has doubled unnoticed, suddenly gained attention when China imposed an export ban on July 10th. The ban is a response to a severe global shortage triggered months earlier. In March, missile attacks damaged the world's largest helium production hub in Qatar's Ras Laffan, halting a third of global supply with repairs expected to take 3-5 years. Concurrently, Russia tightened export controls, and the US sold off its federal helium reserve. Approximately 200 specialized transport containers, each worth ~$1 million, were stranded with perishable cargo. Global spot prices skyrocketed, and chipmakers like TSMC warned of potential impacts. China, which imports over 84% of its helium (primarily from Qatar and Russia), faces a severe squeeze. Despite being helium-poor, China has developed domestic extraction technology over five years, processing byproduct gases from LNG plants to produce ultra-pure helium. Domestic output, while still only covering less than 20% of demand, enabled the recent export ban aimed at securing domestic supply for its own expanding chip industry. The industry now faces "Helium Shortage 5.0." With key global sources constrained for years, this invisible gas—once wasted on party balloons—has become a critical, geopolitically charged bottleneck for chips, healthcare (MRI machines), and beyond, forcing the world to finally treat it as the finite strategic resource it is.

marsbit16m ago

The Semiconductor Industry's Most Obscure Chokepoint Material: It Has Multiplied in Price Unnoticed, and China Just Banned Its Export

marsbit16m ago

Early Investor of Unitree Bets on a Brain-Computer Interface Company

"Wabo Technologies, a brain-computer interface (BCI) startup, has secured new funding from Vertex Ventures (under Temasek), Hongtai Fund, Chengdu Future Industry Fund, and Huifengda Capital. Vertex Ventures is known for its early bet on Unitree Robotics. Inspired by the sci-fi film "Avatar," founder Zhang Xingzhi has pursued human-machine interaction for over a decade. He established Wabo in late 2025, coinciding with China's push for BCI as a future industry. Unlike companies focused solely on medical hardware, Wabo positions itself as a model company. Its core mission is to develop a "Human Neural Intent Model" that decodes EEG, EMG, and behavioral signals to understand a user's goals, confirmations, corrections, and stop intentions before physical action, translating them into standardized control signals for machines, robots, or smart devices. The young, full-stack team, backed by academic collaborators from Tianjin University and Fudan University, quickly attracted investors. The company had previously raised a seed round from Ceyuan Capital. Investors were impressed by Wabo's systematic capabilities in data collection, signal processing, and engineering, seeing potential beyond a single hardware product toward a reusable layer of human intent interpretation. Applications span medical rehabilitation, smart homes, embodied AI, and even space exploration, with Wabo partnering with Tianjin University on pioneering "space BCI" research. Wabo plans a dual-headquarters strategy, with Shanghai focusing on high-end R&D and model development, and Chengdu handling hardware, product development, and supply chain. The BCI sector in China is heating up, with over 30 financing deals in early 2026. Zhang believes future competition will center on who can build a sustainable data-model-scenario loop. He predicts industry consolidation within three years, with only companies that master this闭环 surviving. The vision from "Avatar" is inching closer to reality."

marsbit31m ago

Early Investor of Unitree Bets on a Brain-Computer Interface Company

marsbit31m ago

ChangXin Technology: A Cyclical Stock Standing Atop the Cycle Peak

Changxin Technology: A Cyclical Stock at the Peak On July 27, 2026, Changxin Technology topped the A-share market with a market capitalization of 3.28 trillion yuan, surging 465% on its first trading day. The company, which lost 16.3 billion yuan in 2023, reported an estimated net profit of 50-57 billion yuan for the first half of 2026. Its dramatic reversal mirrors the volatile DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) cycle. The DRAM industry is inherently cyclical, with booms and busts every 3-4 years. This is due to product standardization and a significant time lag in supply adjustment. When prices rise, manufacturers expand capacity, but new production takes 2-3 years to come online, often leading to oversupply and price crashes when demand cools. Changxin's performance perfectly tracks this cycle. It recorded deep losses in 2023-2024 during the industry downturn, turned its first annual profit in 2025, and saw profits skyrocket in Q1 2026. This surge is primarily price-driven. The AI boom has led major players like Samsung and SK Hynix to shift 70-80% of new capacity to high-margin HBM (High Bandwidth Memory), creating a severe shortage and price explosion in general-purpose DRAM markets where Changxin competes. However, a massive global capacity expansion is underway. The top three manufacturers have announced nearly $70 billion in capital expenditure for 2026. Changxin itself plans to expand from three to seven 12-inch wafer fabs. This investment will translate into significant new supply in 2-3 years. While DRAM prices are expected to remain high through 2026-2027, price growth is already slowing, and a potential downturn is forecast for around 2028 as new capacity ramps up. A key challenge for Changxin is catching up in the critical HBM segment. While it has delivered HBM3 samples, leaders are already mass-producing more advanced HBM3E. Success in HBM is crucial for gaining true cyclical resilience. In conclusion, Changxin is a commendable company that has broken foreign monopolies in DRAM. Its long-term growth narrative—driven by import substitution and AI—is valid. Yet, its current valuation of 5-6x forward P/E, typical for a cyclical stock at its peak, suggests much future growth is already priced in. AI may extend the current cycle but cannot eliminate the industry's inherent volatility. For investors, the critical question is preparedness for the inevitable downturn when the cycle turns.

marsbit36m ago

ChangXin Technology: A Cyclical Stock Standing Atop the Cycle Peak

marsbit36m ago

SK Hynix's Most Profitable Quarter Ever: Why Did It Still "Miss Expectations"?

SK H力士 reported record-breaking financial results for Q2 2026. Revenue reached 79.32 trillion KRW (up 257% YoY), while operating profit surged to 60.54 trillion KRW (up 557% YoY). Despite this, the figures fell slightly short of market expectations, causing initial volatility in its stock price. Key factors behind the "miss" include a high proportion of HBM sales tied to long-term supply agreements, which limited profit elasticity during a period of rapid price increases for standard DRAM and NAND memory. The company's outlook remains optimistic. Management forecasts continued strong demand growth for DRAM and NAND in 2026, with no observed slowdown in AI-related investments. Progress on HBM4 shipments and next-generation product development remains on schedule. Furthermore, SK H力士 plans to maintain high capital expenditures, indicating confidence in future AI-driven storage demand. The market reaction highlights a broader debate: investors are less focused on past profits and more on how to price future growth. Bulls emphasize the ongoing AI infrastructure expansion, while bears express concerns about valuation and the sustainability of capital spending. The company's performance and strategy will continue to be a key focus in the semiconductor sector.

Odaily星球日报1h ago

SK Hynix's Most Profitable Quarter Ever: Why Did It Still "Miss Expectations"?

Odaily星球日报1h ago

What If the CLARITY Act Ultimately Fails to Pass?

This article examines the potential consequences if the CLARITY Act, a major US crypto market structure bill, fails to pass in the Senate. Having cleared the House in July 2025 and a key committee in May 2026, the bill's passage into law this year is now considered uncertain, with prediction markets showing its probability dropping from 82% in February to 35%. The article analyzes three main areas of impact should the bill fail. First, for the crypto market, analysts believe a negative reaction is limited and partially priced in already, with Bitcoin's recent weakness attributed more to macro factors. The specific details of the failed bill would matter more than its failure alone. Second, for US stocks, Coinbase (COIN) could see short-term pressure, with analysts citing a potential drop to the $140-$160 range, though its long-term thesis is not solely tied to the bill. For Circle, failure might be neutral or even positive long-term, as a passed bill could invite more stablecoin competition. Bitcoin-treasury firms like Strategy (MSTR) are seen as more directly tied to Bitcoin's price than the legislation. Third, in Washington, the failure is framed within a broader political struggle. Democratic resistance is partly linked to concerns over former President Trump's crypto holdings, making the bill a political tool. If it fails in 2026, the industry would likely rely on existing frameworks like the GENIUS Act and agency-level rules. Missing the August window likely pushes any significant progress to 2027, a period of political reshuffling after midterm elections, making consensus harder to achieve.

Odaily星球日报1h ago

What If the CLARITY Act Ultimately Fails to Pass?

Odaily星球日报1h ago

Trading

Spot
活动图片