8 December 2025 – Tether Investments announced today an investment in Generative Bionics, the largest spinoff in the history of IIT (the Italian Institute of Technology) and one of the largest research spinoffs in Europe, to support the development of a new generation of intelligent humanoid robots built for industrial scale performance, human-centric interaction and advanced artificial intelligence. This investment is made alongside other leading investors as a part of a 70 million euro funding round and reflects Tether’s strategy to expand its footprint and investments into technologies that strengthen global digital and physical infrastructure and augment human potential.
Generative Bionics leverages two decades of robotics research conducted at the Italian Institute of Technology, where more than 60 advanced humanoid robot prototypes have been designed, tested and refined successfully and provided as testing platforms to robotics research centers worldwide. The company holds exclusive licenses to key technologies developed at IIT and with corporate partners. It has integrated approximately seventy engineers and AI scientists from IIT into its technical division, supported by experts in industrialization, certification, and manufacturing. Together, this initial core team brings to the company a cumulative experience of over 600 years in Physical AI and robotics. This solid foundation positions Generative Bionics to transform Italy’s scientific excellence into real-world Physical AI capabilities, supporting the broader global robotics ecosystem.
Tether’s investment will support the development of Physical AI systems and edge AI solutions, and accelerate the industrial validation of the company’s humanoid platform, the development of its first production facility, and its integration in the broader robotics ecosystem. Generative Bionics is preparing its initial industrial deployment programs, expected to be announced in early 2026, which will introduce Italian-made humanoid robots into operational environments across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, retail, and other high-demand sectors. These systems fuse robotics and Artificial Intelligence, and will be engineered to enhance safety, efficiency, and productivity, aligning with Tether’s commitment to fostering technologies that contribute to more resilient global infrastructure.
Tether’s ethos is rooted in the belief that technology should enhance human freedom, strengthen societal resilience, and operate independently of concentrated corporate or political control. The company prioritizes systems that are open, transparent, and capable of serving people and institutions without requiring trust in centralized intermediaries. This philosophy guides Tether’s expansion into technologies that improve global infrastructure, increase individual and community autonomy, and ensure that the benefits of advanced innovation remain broadly accessible. Tether’s investments reflect a commitment to developing tools that empower human potential while preserving the principles of openness, security, and decentralization that define its mission.
Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, said, “Tether invests in technologies that strengthen global digital and physical infrastructure and expand human potential. Humanoid robotics and Physical AI represent a powerful evolution in how intelligence and capability operate in the real world. Generative Bionics is building one of the most advanced platforms emerging from Europe, and we are proud to support a team that is transforming Italy’s scientific leadership into global industrial impact.”
Tether’s support for Generative Bionics builds on its broader strategy to back emerging technologies that expand human potential while reducing reliance on centralized systems overseen by Big Tech. This includes investments in brain-computer interfaces via Blackrock Neurotech and recent AI initiatives such as Tether’s collaboration with Northern Data and Rumble to deploy a 20,000-GPU global compute network for open, privacy-preserving AI development.
The humanoid robotics sector is projected by analysts to surpass two hundred billion euro by 2035 and may exceed five trillion euro by 2050. As industries adopt advanced automation to meet rising global demands, Physical AI is expected to become a foundational layer across supply chains, essential services and next generation industrial systems. Tether’s investment supports this evolution while expanding the company’s footprint into transformative technologies that align with its mission to empower open, resilient and innovative global infrastructures.
The first complete humanoid robot concept developed by Generative Bionics will make its international premiere at CES in Las Vegas.
About Tether Investments
Tether Investments is the independent investment arm of Tether, the largest company in the digital assets industry. Based in El Salvador, the firm deploys capital from Tether’s profits and excess reserves across a wide range of sectors where technology, infrastructure, and real-world utility intersect.
Its portfolio includes investments in artificial intelligence, financial services, energy, biotechnology, education, and digital media, as well as strategic stakes in industries such as commodities, remittances, and sports and entertainment. Tether Investments supports ventures with long-term potential to improve access, efficiency, and resilience in both emerging and developed markets. Its work supports Tether Group’s broader mission to strengthen decentralized systems, promote infrastructure resilience, and expand real-world access to open, transparent technologies.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may be forward looking in nature. The words “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “could,” “should,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “plan,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “project” and similar expressions, among others, generally identify “forward-looking statements,” which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The matters discussed in these forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. None of Tether nor any other person (including Generative Bionics) is responsible for updating or revising any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
