Tether Investments Buys Stake in Gold Royalty Firm to Deepen Exposure to Durable Assets

As stablecoins mature beyond their crypto-native roots, Tether is making a clear pivot toward asset-backed infrastructure.

Key Takeaways

* As stablecoins mature beyond their crypto-native roots, Tether is making a clear pivot toward asset-backed infrastructure.

* Its latest investment signals growing interest in blending traditional commodities with blockchain-based finance as the company deepens its exposure to gold through a significant equity deal with a Canadian royalty firm.

* After investing heavily in Bitcoin, the world’s leading cryptocurrency, over recent years, Tether has been diversifying its portfolio to include other durable assets.

Tether Acquires Major Stake in Gold Royalty Firm

Part of the Tether Group, Te La Mancha Integral (LMI), has acquired a major stake in Elemental Altus Royalties a Canadian-listed gold royalty firm.

This move deepens Tether’s broader strategy of integrating durable assets like gold and Bitcoin into its ecosystem to support a more resilient, decentralized financial infrastructure.

The company, led by Paolo Ardoino, acquired 78.4 million Elemental shares—around 31.9% of its capital—from La Mancha Investments in a private offshore deal.

The investment provides Tether with direct exposure to global gold production through Elemental’s royalty-based model, which avoids the operational risks of mining.

Elemental holds a diversified portfolio of 44 gold and silver royalties and streams in tier-one mining jurisdictions, offering passive exposure to a collective mineral reserve of over 26 million ounces of gold.

After investing heavily in Bitcoin, the world’s leading cryptocurrency, over recent years, Tether has been diversifying its portfolio to include other durable assets.

Earlier this year, the company announced plans to develop an advanced commodity-backed digital asset at the World Economic Forum.

At the time, Ardoino said: “We are exploring opportunities to expand our tokenized commodity offerings, building upon the success of Tether Gold.”

Tether also signed an option agreement with AlphaStream and its subsidiary Alpha 1 SPV, granting it the right, but not the obligation, to purchase 34.4 million more shares.

This option is valid for a period of 24 months and is exercisable at an agreed-upon price of $1.05 per share.

“Elemental is a natural fit for our investment strategy, offering a unique and diversified portfolio of gold royalties that align perfectly with our aim to strengthen the backbone of asset-backed digital finance,” said Ardoino.

“We may also explore closer collaboration with Elemental’s board and management, subject to regulatory approvals.”

Building the Future of Digital Finance

Tether’s growing exposure to “hard” assets includes over 100,000 BTC, nearly 80 tons of physical gold, and its gold-backed token, Tether Gold (XAUT).

“Tether’s growing investments in gold and Bitcoin reflect our forward-looking strategy to build a more resilient and transparent financial system,” said Ardoino.

“Just as Bitcoin provides the ultimate decentralized hedge against monetary inflation, gold continues to be a time-tested store of value.”

“By gaining exposure to a diversified portfolio of gold royalties through Elemental, we are strengthening the backing of our ecosystem while advancing Tether Gold and future commodity-backed digital assets. This is not just about investment—it’s about building financial infrastructure for the next century,” the Tether chief explained.

The investment follows a period of rapid innovation for Tether as it expands beyond its flagship stablecoin, USD₮, to include a broader suite of Web3 financial products and services.

Earlier this year, Tether announced two other strategic investments to expand stablecoin adoption in emerging markets, backing Shiga Digital in Africa and Orionx in Latin America.

Shiga Digital provides blockchain-based financial services—such as virtual accounts, OTC trading, treasury, and FX solutions—tailored to African businesses.

Powered by USD₮, the platform helps address long-standing challenges in cross-border payments and financial access, especially in sectors like oil and gas.

The partnership aims to bring stable, real-world financial tools to underserved users across the continent.

Ardoino added: “Shiga’s deep understanding of the local market and its commitment to technological innovation make it an ideal partner for expanding the role of stablecoins in driving economic growth and inclusion.”

Tether also led the Series A round for Orionx , a Chilean crypto exchange with operations in Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico.

Orionx provides stablecoin-powered services for remittances, payment collection, and treasury management—vital tools in a region hit hard by inflation and limited banking access.