Tether Bids €1B for Juventus Majority Stake in Crypto-Sports Deal

Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, USDT, has formally submitted a proposal to purchase the 65.4% shareholding in Juventus Football Club S.p.A. currently owned by Exor. The Agnelli family, through Exor, has been the majority owner of the Turin-based club since 1923, making this a potentially historic shift for one of Europe’s most storied football institutions. The offer is described as binding and all-cash, though specific financial terms were not disclosed in the announcement.

The move represents a significant escalation of Tether’s interest in Juventus, which began with the acquisition of a minority stake in February 2024. Should Exor accept the proposal, Tether has stated it will subsequently launch a public tender offer for the remaining shares in the Serie A club at the same per-share price, aiming for full control. This structured approach underscores the seriousness of Tether’s intent to become the principal owner.

Central to Tether’s proposal is a substantial capital commitment. The company has pledged to invest €1 billion to support Juventus’s growth, focusing on sporting performance and sustainable development within the evolving global sports and media landscape. In a statement, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino framed the bid as a long-term partnership, stating, “Tether is in a position of strong financial health and intends to support Juventus with stable capital and a long horizon.”

Ardoino, an Italian native, also emphasized a deep personal connection to the club, which adds a layer of narrative to the corporate transaction. “For me, Juventus has always been part of my life,” he said. “I grew up with this team. As a boy, I learned what commitment, resilience, and responsibility meant by watching Juventus face success and adversity with dignity.” This sentiment suggests the investment is driven by both strategic ambition and personal affinity.

The Juventus bid is not an isolated venture but fits within Tether’s expanding portfolio of strategic investments beyond its core stablecoin business. The company has maintained an active investment approach, recently participating in an $81 million funding round for an Italian humanoid robotics firm. Furthermore, in November, it increased its stake in video-sharing platform Rumble, following a previously announced $775 million investment in the YouTube rival.

This aggressive diversification coincides with reports that Tether is considering a landmark move into tokenization. According to a recent Bloomberg report, the privately held company is exploring tokenizing its stock, potentially seeking to raise $20 billion at a staggering valuation of $500 billion. While a Tether representative did not immediately comment on the report, the potential move highlights the company’s ambition to leverage blockchain technology in new financial frontiers, even as it makes traditional acquisitions like the Juventus bid.

If successful, Tether’s acquisition of Juventus would represent a watershed moment, bridging the worlds of cryptocurrency and elite European football. It signals the growing financial clout of major crypto entities and their desire to anchor their brands within mainstream, culturally significant institutions. The proposed €1 billion investment could reshape Juventus’s competitive and commercial trajectory, while the deal itself would be closely watched as a template for future crypto-sports integrations.