Tether Leads Pre-Seed Round in Bolivian Fintech Peso to Expand USDT Payment Infrastructure Across Latin America

Tether, the company behind USDT, the world’s largest stablecoin by market capitalization, has made a strategic move to solidify its presence in South America by leading a pre-seed funding round in Peso. Peso is an innovative Bolivian fintech company that provides cryptocurrency-based savings, payments, and investment services across several key Latin American markets.

While the exact financial figures of the undisclosed investment were not made public, the partnership is designed to significantly expand local on- and off-ramps across four primary Latin American economies: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina. Furthermore, the injection of capital will accelerate the commercial rollout of advanced point-of-sale (POS) systems that natively enable USDT for everyday retail transactions, transforming how citizens in the region interact with digital assets.

The collaboration highlights Tether’s ongoing strategy of supporting regional partners that facilitate stablecoin usage and drive adoption in emerging economies. In regions experiencing currency volatility or limited access to traditional banking services, USDT has increasingly been adopted as a reliable dollar proxy, serving as both a hedge against inflation and a practical medium of exchange.

Tether Backs Bolivia’s Emerging Crypto Hub Ambitions

Tether’s investment in Peso coincides with a pivotal moment for Bolivia’s financial sector. For years, the nation’s banking system was legally excluded from supporting cryptocurrency transactions under a strict government ban. However, that policy was officially reversed in 2024, opening the door for digital assets to re-enter the mainstream economy.

Following the reversal of the crypto ban, the Bolivian government began actively evaluating ways to integrate USDT payments directly into its national financial infrastructure. This progressive shift has transformed Bolivia into an unexpected focal point for crypto innovation in South America, and Tether is positioning itself at the center of this evolution.

Beyond traditional app-based crypto management, Peso has carved out a distinct niche by focusing heavily on real-world utility. The fintech provides the underlying infrastructure for Bolivian users to make everyday purchases using cryptocurrency, bridging the gap between digital wealth and tangible goods. Its use cases span across popular e-commerce platforms, ride-hailing services, and food-delivery applications.

A prime example of Peso’s practical implementation is its integration with Yango, a prominent local mobility and delivery platform. Through Peso’s infrastructure, users can order and pay for rides and food directly using USDT, completely bypassing the need for traditional fiat currency exchanges or cumbersome bank transfers. Additionally, Peso offers a robust network of point-of-sale terminals that seamlessly connect USDT payments with traditional bank accounts, empowering local merchants to accept stablecoin payments and execute automated crypto-to-fiat conversions on the spot.

Growing USDT Adoption Across Latin America

The fresh capital secured through Tether’s leadership in the pre-seed round will allow Peso to dramatically accelerate its current corporate roadmap. Key priorities include the broader deployment of USDT-linked POS terminals and the expansion of reliable local on- and off-ramp networks throughout Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina. By reinforcing these corridors, the partnership aims to establish USDT as a dependable, high-efficiency settlement layer for everyday commerce throughout the continent.

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, emphasized the broader strategic significance of the investment, pointing out that Peso is actively constructing the vital infrastructure needed to move stablecoins beyond mere speculative assets.

"Peso is building the kind of everyday-spend infrastructure that turns USDT from a savings tool into a payments channel people rely on daily," Ardoino stated. "By supporting Peso’s growth across the region, we aim to create a new standard for stablecoin-powered solutions."

Alejandro Terán, CEO and co-founder of Peso, echoed these sentiments, noting that the company’s primary objective has always been to remove friction from cryptocurrency adoption by providing the seamless operational infrastructure required for everyday retail spending. He also expressed pride in securing backing from the industry leader at such an early stage in the company’s development.

"That a company like Tether chose a Bolivian startup for this investment is a recognition of the talent and execution capacity that exists here, and we are proud to have them as collaborators at this stage," Terán remarked.

This latest venture capital deployment is part of a broader, aggressive expansion strategy by Tether across Latin America. The stablecoin issuer has recently engaged in a series of similar strategic investments and partnerships throughout the region to cement USDT’s dominance. These include backing Orionx, a prominent Chilean cryptocurrency payments platform, and participating in a significant $20 million strategic investment in Ualá, a major Argentine neobank. Through these targeted alliances, Tether continues to weave USDT deeper into the financial fabric of Latin America, transforming digital dollar access for millions of everyday users.