Tether Becomes Juventus Second-Largest Shareholder With 10.7% Stake

Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, has become the second-largest shareholder of the Italian football club Juventus, with a 10.7% stake valued at approximately €128 million. The company declared its stake in February 2025 and by April had accumulated this significant holding. This makes Tether the second-largest shareholder in the Italian football giant, trailing only Exor NV, the Agnelli family’s investment company, which has owned Juventus for over a century.

Despite the sizable investment, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino revealed in a recent interview that communication between Tether, Exor, and the club’s leadership has been “very, very limited.” Tether’s proposal to participate in a potential capital raise and its request for a board seat have been met with silence. This lack of engagement suggests that Juventus is cautious about integrating cryptocurrency firms into its governance structure, possibly due to regulatory and reputational concerns.

Tether’s interest in Juventus is part of a broader trend of digital asset firms expanding their reach into traditional sectors like sports and entertainment. Prior to this year, no major European football club had ever welcomed a crypto firm as a top shareholder. Tether’s entry was seen as a high-profile signal of this expansion. However, nearly six months in, the partnership appears strained. Without board representation or participation in club-level financial planning, Tether’s long-term ambitions to influence the club’s direction remain in question.

“Our interest is in ensuring the long-term success of the club,” a Tether spokesperson stated. “We believe having a voice in key decisions is part of fulfilling that responsibility.” This statement underscores Tether’s desire to play an active role in Juventus’ governance, but the club’s reluctance to engage with the cryptocurrency firm highlights the ongoing tension between traditional financial institutions and the emerging cryptocurrency industry.

Whether Juventus will respond or continue to keep its new investor at arm’s length could shape the future of crypto-corporate relationships in professional sports. The situation underscores the challenges faced by cryptocurrency firms in gaining acceptance and influence in traditional industries. Juventus’ decision to shut out Tether from governance suggests that the club is prioritizing stability and traditional investor relations over the potential benefits of cryptocurrency investments. This cautious approach reflects the broader regulatory and reputational risks associated with cryptocurrency investments in traditional sectors.