Tether, the company behind the world’s largest stablecoin, is considering leading a funding round of roughly $1.2 billion for Neura Robotics, a fast-growing German robotics startup developing advanced humanoid machines, according to reporting from the Financial Times.
People familiar with the talks told the outlet that discussions center around a deal that could value Neura between $9.3 billion and $11.6 billion, positioning the company among the most highly valued robotics players in Europe if finalized.
A Push to Diversify Beyond Stablecoins
The potential investment marks Tether’s continued expansion beyond its core stablecoin business. Issuing USDT, the dominant dollar-pegged asset in the global crypto market, has generated enormous profits for the company, with more than $10 billion earned in the first nine months of the year alone. After a strong 2024, Tether has poured capital into sectors ranging from artificial intelligence and data infrastructure to energy projects and bitcoin mining.
CEO Paolo Ardoino has been particularly vocal about the company’s interest in decentralized AI. Tether is funding internal research efforts focused on open-source, peer-to-peer machine learning under a project dubbed “Tether AI.”
Neura Robotics Targets a New Era of Humanoid Machines
For Neura Robotics, fresh capital would support its push toward commercializing its flagship humanoid robot. The company’s first models are aimed at industrial customers, with longer-term plans to expand into consumer households. Executives have previously outlined a vision to manufacture up to 5 million units by 2030, a scale they describe as an “iPhone moment” for the robotics sector.
The startup raised nearly $140 million in January from investors including BlueCrest, Lingotto, C4 Ventures, and the Volvo Cars Tech Fund. If the latest round materializes, Neura would strengthen its position in a competitive field that includes major players such as Tesla, which is also racing to bring humanoid robots to mass production.
A Strategic Bet on Robotics and Automation
While talks between Tether and Neura are ongoing, the potential deal highlights a broader shift in Tether’s investment strategy: using its cash-heavy balance sheet to gain exposure to emerging technologies that sit at the intersection of AI, robotics, and decentralized systems.
For Tether, a stake in one of Europe’s most ambitious robotics firms could offer both strategic value and diversification. For Neura, it would provide a powerful backer at a time when humanoid robotics is moving rapidly from concept to commercialization.
