Tether invests $81 million in Italian humanoid robot startup 'Generative Bionics'

Tether is stepping up investments in the humanoid robot sector, accelerating its expansion into non-cryptocurrency areas. The company said it participated in a $81 million funding round for Generative Bionics, an Italian startup developing AI-based humanoid robots.

According to Decrypt on the 9th (local time), the round was conducted at €70 million in total and was led by CDP Venture Capital's AI fund. In addition to Tether, AMD Ventures, Duferco, Eni Next, and RoboIT participated.

Through this investment, Tether plans to provide the funds Generative Bionics needs to complete industrial testing and build its first production facility ahead of a 2026 commercial deployment. The company defines the robots as a 'Physical AI' system, describing them as a combination of humanoid structure and artificial intelligence technology.

Paolo Ardoino, Tether's CEO, said artificial intelligence and humanoid robots are technologies that strengthen digital and physical infrastructure and extend human potential, adding, "Tether is investing in future technologies with great potential." He explained that Tether's investments are expanding beyond its stablecoin business into areas such as AI, media, agriculture, and brain-computer interfaces.

Generative Bionics was spun out from the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in 2024 and was founded based on more than 20 years of research on over 60 humanoid prototypes. About 70 IIT researchers have joined to work on commercial robot development for manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and retail, and the company aims to enter the global robot market under the 'Made in Italy' brand.

The company plans to unveil its first full-fledged humanoid robot at CES in Las Vegas in 2026. CEO Daniele Pucci said, "The goal is to build a future in which intelligent humanoid robots expand human cognitive and physical capabilities," and explained that Physical AI technology can create tangible value across various industrial sites.

The humanoid industry saw notable growth in 2025 alongside major investments. Figure AI raised $675 million at a $2.6 billion valuation, and Bedrock Robotics secured $80 million. Roundhill Investments also filed for a humanoid robot ETF this year, and Morgan Stanley projected the market could grow to $5 trillion by 2050. Industrial automation and demand to address labor shortages were cited as key growth factors.