Key Takeaways
- Tether has increased its stake in Juventus to 10.1%, becoming the club’s second-largest shareholder.
- Despite its growing position, Tether says it was blocked from participating in a €110 million capital raise.
- CEO Paolo Ardoino criticized the club for sidelining committed investors ready to contribute.
Tether has quietly increased its stake in Juventus to over 10%, becoming the Italian football club’s second-largest shareholder.
However, despite its growing position, the stablecoin issuer claims it’s being shut out of key decisions, and even barred from participating in the team’s capital raise.
Juventus Doesn’t Allow Tether to Invest
Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether and a longtime Juventus supporter, said the company hasn’t been allowed to participate in a recent €15–€110 million funding round despite expressing a clear desire to invest more in the club.
“Since Tether announced its investment in Juventus—and especially amid growing fan frustration—many have asked when Tether will ‘hunt the wheat’ to support the team by buying players,” Ardoino wrote on X. “We simply can’t invest if we’re not permitted to.”
Tether now owns 10.1% of Juventus, trailing only the holding company Exor (65.4%) and surpassing Lindsell Train, a U.K. investment firm with an 8.7% stake.
Ardoino said the move is part of a long-term strategy, but voiced frustration over the company’s inability to contribute more meaningfully.
“It’s a shame to exclude committed shareholders ready to invest in making Juventus great again,” he added. “I hope at least the price of my match ticket helps cover management costs.”
Friction With Club Leadership
According to Ardoino, Tether has attempted to contact Juventus management and top shareholders but has received no response.
The silence has fueled speculation about internal tensions and resistance to external influence, even from a major investor.
Tether’s involvement has already stirred attention in Italian media, with reports suggesting the company may nominate Juan Sartori, a Uruguayan senator and co-owner of Sunderland FC, for a seat on Juventus’s board.
Sartori is also vice president of AS Monaco.
While Ardoino emphasized that Tether has “no hidden agenda,” the situation reflects a disconnect between the club’s leadership and one of its most vocal and well-funded shareholders.
A Broader Investment Strategy
The Juventus stake is just one part of Tether’s expanding portfolio.
In recent weeks, the company has led a $10 million round for fintech startup Mansa, invested $775 million in video platform Rumble, and submitted a bid to acquire control of Adecoagro, a South American agriculture giant.
Still, the Juventus investment stands apart for its emotional value. Both Ardoino and Tether co-founder Giancarlo Devasini are lifelong fans of the club, and they see football as a sector ripe for technological transformation.
“Football is stuck in outdated development and communication models,” Ardoino told Corriere della Sera, adding that he wants to see Juventus embrace innovation. The message, as he’s often repeated, is clear: Make Juve Great Again.
But for now, Tether appears to be stuck on the sidelines—eager to invest, but locked out by the very team it wants to support.
Giuseppe Ciccomascolo began his career as an investigative journalist in Italy, where he contributed to both local and national newspapers, focusing on various financial sectors.
Upon relocating to London, he worked as an analyst for Fitch's CapitalStructure and later as a Senior Reporter for Alliance News. In 2017, Giuseppe transitioned to covering cryptocurrency-related news, producing documentaries and articles on Bitcoin and other emerging digital currencies. He also played a pivotal role in establishing the academy for a cryptocurrency exchange website. Crypto remained his primary area of interest throughout his tenure as a writer for ThirdFloor.
