Tether Invests in Humanoid Robots. When Will They Be Launched

RBK-cryptoОпубліковано о 2025-12-09Востаннє оновлено о 2025-12-09

Анотація

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

Пов'язані питання

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.

Пов'язані матеріали

a16z: 5 Ways Blockchain Can Help AI Agent Infrastructure

Blockchain technology provides critical infrastructure for AI agents by addressing five key challenges: 1) Non-human identity: AI agents lack standardized, portable identity systems. Blockchain enables verifiable, cross-platform agent identities (like "Know Your Agent" frameworks) through cryptographic credentials and on-chain registries. 2) AI governance: When AI systems execute decisions, blockchain ensures transparency and prevents centralized control by recording actions on-chain and enabling auditable execution logs. 3) Payments: Stablecoins and crypto payments (e.g., x402, MPP) serve as default settlement layers for agent-to-agent commerce, enabling frictionless, programmable transactions for "headless" AI-native businesses. 4) Trust and verification: As AI scales, blockchain provides cryptographic proof of origin and auditable histories, making verification—not intelligence—the scarce resource. 5) User control: Crypto-native tools (e.g., delegation toolkits, intent-based architectures) allow users to set boundaries and maintain oversight over autonomous agents, minimizing blind trust. Together, blockchain and AI can create an economic infrastructure built on transparency, accountability, and user sovereignty.

marsbit24 хв тому

a16z: 5 Ways Blockchain Can Help AI Agent Infrastructure

marsbit24 хв тому

You Bet on the News, the Pros Read the Rules: The True Cognitive Gap in Losing Money on Polymarket

The article explains that the key to profiting on Polymarket, a prediction market platform, lies not just predicting real-world events correctly, but in meticulously understanding the specific rules that govern how each market will be resolved. It illustrates this with examples, such as a market on Venezuela's 2026 leader, where the official rules defining "officially holds" the office overruled the intuitive answer of who was in practical control. Other examples include debates over the definition of a "token" or what constitutes an "agreement." The core argument is that a "reality vs. rules" gap creates pricing discrepancies that savvy traders ("车头" or "whales") exploit. The platform has a formal dispute resolution process managed by UMA token holders to settle ambiguous outcomes. This process involves proposal submission, a challenge window, a discussion period, and a final vote. However, the article highlights a critical flaw in this system compared to a traditional court: the lack of separation between the arbiters (UMA voters) and the interested parties (traders with financial stakes in the outcome). This conflict of interest undermines the discussion phase, leads to herd mentality, and results in opaque final decisions without explanatory rulings. Consequently, the system lacks a body of precedent, making it difficult for users to learn from past disputes. The ultimate takeaway is that success on Polymarket requires a lawyer-like scrutiny of the rules to identify and capitalize on the cognitive gap between how events appear and how they are contractually defined for settlement.

marsbit40 хв тому

You Bet on the News, the Pros Read the Rules: The True Cognitive Gap in Losing Money on Polymarket

marsbit40 хв тому

Will Solana Flip Ethereum Soon? SOL Takes First Step Toward Total Domination

Solana has significantly closed the gap with Ethereum, particularly in transaction volume, processing 9 billion transactions last month compared to Ethereum's 69 million. It has also surpassed Ethereum in cumulative lifetime transactions. This highlights Solana's high-throughput, low-cost architecture designed for real-time usage. Major partnerships, such as with Visa for stablecoin settlements and Western Union's upcoming stablecoin launch, underscore its growing institutional adoption. Solana has even overtaken Ethereum in real-world asset (RWA) holders. However, a complete "flippening" depends on broader factors like capital inflows, developer activity, and network confidence. While Solana's smaller market cap suggests greater growth potential, Ethereum's Layer-2 scaling strategy strengthens its ecosystem. The outcome remains uncertain, with trade-offs on both sides.

bitcoinist47 хв тому

Will Solana Flip Ethereum Soon? SOL Takes First Step Toward Total Domination

bitcoinist47 хв тому

Spending $200 to Buy Stars, Scamming VCs Out of Tens of Millions: The Entire GitHub Fake Star Industry Exposed

A peer-reviewed study from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) reveals that GitHub hosts approximately 6 million fake Stars, involving 18,600 repositories and 301,000 accounts, with AI/LLM projects being the largest non-malicious category for fake engagement. The fake Star market has exploded, with prices as low as $0.03 per Star. Research shows that venture capital firms, such as Redpoint Ventures, use GitHub Star counts as a key metric for evaluating startups, with median Stars at 2,850 for seed-stage funding. For less than $200, a project can artificially meet this threshold, distorting investment landscape. Over a dozen websites openly sell GitHub Stars, and fake Star activity saw explosive growth in 2024. AI-related repositories were among the most heavily affected. Despite GitHub’s policies against fake engagement, enforcement remains inconsistent: while 90% of flagged repositories were deleted, only 57% of involved accounts were suspended. The report highlights how purchased Stars can manipulate GitHub’s Trending algorithm and influence VC funding decisions, creating a cycle where artificial metrics attract real investment.

marsbit49 хв тому

Spending $200 to Buy Stars, Scamming VCs Out of Tens of Millions: The Entire GitHub Fake Star Industry Exposed

marsbit49 хв тому

Will the Fed Still Cut Interest Rates? Tonight's Data Is Crucial

The core debate surrounding the Federal Reserve's potential interest rate cuts is intensifying amid geopolitical conflict and rebounding inflation. The key question is whether high energy prices will cause persistent inflation or weaken consumer demand enough to force the Fed to cut rates. Citigroup presents a bullish case for cuts, arguing that oil supply disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz are temporary and will not lead to lasting inflationary pressure. They point to receding bond yields and oil prices as evidence the market is pricing in a short-lived shock. Citi's data also shows tightening financial conditions, a stabilizing labor market, and healthy tax returns, supporting their view that the path to lower rates remains open. Conversely, Deutsche Bank offers a starkly contrasting, more hawkish outlook. They argue the Fed's current policy is already neutral and expect rates to remain unchanged indefinitely. Their view is based on stalled disinflation progress and a shift toward more hawkish rhetoric from key Fed officials like Waller, who cited risks from prolonged Middle East conflict and tariffs. Other officials, including Williams and Hammack, signaled rates would likely stay on hold for a "considerable time." The market pricing has shifted dramatically, now forecasting zero cuts in 2026. The imminent release of the March retail sales "control group" data is highlighted as a critical test. This metric, which excludes gas station sales, will reveal if high gasoline prices are eroding consumer spending in other areas. A weak reading could support the case for imminent rate cuts, while a strong one would bolster the argument for the Fed to hold steady. This data is pivotal for determining the near-term policy path.

marsbit1 год тому

Will the Fed Still Cut Interest Rates? Tonight's Data Is Crucial

marsbit1 год тому

Торгівля

Спот

Ф'ючерси