Tether is backing a new class of industrial humanoid robots being built to take on dangerous and physically exhausting jobs inside factories and logistics hubs.

The stablecoin issuer joined AMD Ventures, Italy’s state-backed Artificial Intelligence Fund, and other investors in a €70 million round for Generative Bionics, a new spinoff from the Italian Institute of Technology.

The year-old company is developing “Physical AI” humanoids designed to operate in environments built for humans, handling lifting, hauling, and repetitive tasks that traditional robotic arms can’t easily perform.

For Tether, the investment is part of what CEO Paolo Ardoino describes as a shift toward backing “digital and physical infrastructure,” projects that expand the company’s footprint beyond stablecoins and reduce what he calls a growing “reliance on centralized systems overseen by Big Tech.” Tether has funded several internal and external AI projects and has investments across the Bitcoin mining sector.

He said Generative Bionics aligns with Tether’s belief that technology should “strengthen societal resilience” and accelerate real-world innovation.

It also arrives just weeks after S&P Global downgraded USDT’s stability score to the weakest level on its scale, citing Tether's rising exposure to bitcoin and other investments with limited disclosure. Tether rejected the assessment, calling S&P’s framework outdated.

Generative Bionics says its initial industrial deployment programs are slated for early 2026, with target sectors including manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and retail. 

Last month, the Financial Times reported Tether was "in discussions" to invest in German tech startup Neura Robotics at an approximately $10 billion valuation.