Stablecoin issuer Tether continues to expand beyond financial technology with a fresh investment into Italy’s media landscape.
On March 27, the company revealed a €10 million capital injection into Be Water, an Italian media firm. As part of the deal, Tether will secure a 30.4% equity stake in the company by the end of the month.
Be Water produces and distributes film, television, audio, and live content. Tether’s investment aims to accelerate international expansion while supporting its digital infrastructure with blockchain and advanced tech tools.
The partnership is also expected to enhance the company’s ability to distribute independent content across global platforms.
With this deal, Tether’s growing investment portfolio now spans media, biotech, sports, and video platforms. Previous deals include $775 million in Rumble, a stake in Juventus Football Club, and a $200 million investment in BlackRock Neurotech, a company developing brain-computer interface technology.
Independent media
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino highlighted the importance of preserving editorial independence. He said the investment would help Be Water avoid pressure from commercial narratives and maintain its creative freedom.
He stated:
“While often Media companies are bullied into kneeling to sponsored narratives simply to survive, Tether’s investment in BeWater ensures that the group will continue to remain solid, visionary and especially independent.”
Despite Ardoino’s claim, the investment has shifted Be Water’s ownership structure. The updated shareholder list includes Guido Maria Brera, Giancarlo Devasini, and Paolo Ardoino from Tether, along with a mix of industry professionals such as Mario Calabresi, Roberto Condulmari, Saverio Costanzo, and Barbara Salabè.
At the same time, Be Water’s board will also see changes, with Brera named Chairman and Salabè stepping in as CEO. Other board members include Claudia Lagorio, Tether’s COO, and Sabrina Giovannetti, Be Water’s CFO.
Meanwhile, the media company is rolling out a major development plan. This includes investing in next-gen digital infrastructure, expanding its investigative journalism arms, Chora and Will, and partnering with international film, TV, and documentary production talent.
USDT reaches 400 million users
While Tether continues venturing into new sectors, the firm’s core business remains strong.
In a social media post on X, Ardoino pointed out that USDT stablecoin recently crossed 400 million users worldwide and remains the largest in the industry, with a market cap of over $140 billion.
He described USDT as a grassroots solution bridging financial gaps where traditional systems fall short.
According to him:
“We always focused on the adoption from the ground up, working in the streets, among other people, while traditional finance was watching at us from their ivory towers.”
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