Tether Expands Beyond Crypto with 70% Stake in Adecoagro, Aiming for Tokenization of Agriculture and Bioenergy
Tether, the issuer of the widely used $150 billion USDT stablecoin, has completed the acquisition of a controlling 70% stake in Adecoagro (AGRO), a leading agricultural and bioenergy producer in Latin America, with a market capitalization nearing $1 billion.
This venture began in September 2024 when Tether initially invested $100 million to acquire a 9.8% stake in Adecoagro. By February 2025, Tether proposed increasing its stake to 51%, eventually raising it to 70% in March 2025, gaining full control of the company.
Adecoagro operates a diverse range of assets across Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, including sugar mills, rice farms, dairy facilities, and renewable energy projects. With this acquisition, Tether now controls one of the largest and most influential agricultural firms in the region.
Tether has stated that it intends to enhance Adecoagro’s operations while supporting its mission of fostering economic freedom via decentralized finance. The acquisition aligns with Tether’s broader vision to tokenize real-world assets, including agricultural and bioenergy resources, following the launch of its asset tokenization platform, Hadron, in 2024. Hadron simplifies the conversion of physical assets, such as bonds, stocks, and commodities, into blockchain-based digital tokens.
“Our partnership with Adecoagro allows us to combine their industry leadership with our vision for decentralized finance, creating a bridge between traditional sectors and the future of digital economies,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether.
As part of the deal, Adecoagro’s board underwent a reshuffling, with five members stepping down and being replaced by executives tied to Tether’s strategic objectives. Juan Sartori, a prominent Uruguayan businessman with interests in agriculture and politics, has been named the new chairman.
Tether’s expansion into agriculture and bioenergy complements its ongoing ventures into bitcoin mining, artificial intelligence, and secure communications. Following the announcement, Adecoagro’s shares saw a 2.6% increase.
