Tether has invested in EFY Finance, facilitating stablecoin payments in the Latin American region us

Tether has invested in EFY Finance to support stablecoin payments in Latin America.

As the issuer of USDT, the world’s most traded stablecoin, Tether has participated in the seed round financing of EFY Finance. This investment aims to enhance institutional access to digital USDT-based payments in Latin America. Neither Tether nor EFY Finance have disclosed the exact amount of their investments, as well as the valuation of EFY Finance and the total amount of this round of financing.

The expansion of stablecoin payments in this region is crucial.

EFY Finance is a fintech company dedicated to building infrastructure for cross-border payments and digital asset transactions in Latin America. It allows businesses and financial institutions to settle transactions using USDT and USAT stablecoins. EFY Finance also offers digital wallets, payment cards, and hosting services. It holds licenses from Salvadoran authorities as an asset service provider and operates active local payment channels in 17 countries, including Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, and El Salvador.

Currently, EFY Finance serves over 25,000 retail and institutional accounts, offering exchange services between more than 12 currencies. It also supports direct payments to local bank accounts. The company plans to leverage Tether’s support to expand its services for institutions in the region, thereby increasing access to regulated digital USDT-based infrastructure.

Tether’s CEO, Paolo Ardoino, emphasized the importance of the US dollar in Latin America, describing it as a “lifeline against inflation and capital controls.” He also noted that it’s necessary to enhance access to digital assets through regulated platforms. Ardoino stated that for Latin Americans facing currency instability, the US dollar is crucial, and EFY Finance helps make digital assets denominated in US dollars more accessible through regulated networks.

EFY Finance’s co-founder and CEO, Andrés Tobón, said that the main challenge currently is connecting stablecoins with traditional banking systems, including local payment channels, cards, and cross-border settlements, thereby strengthening their position in the mainstream financial landscape.

This expansion plan involves USDT (stablecoins issued by Tether, pegged to the US dollar) and USAT (a new generation of US-focused stablecoin issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, supported by Tether). According to Tether, USAT is not legal tender, not guaranteed by the U.S. government, and does not receive insurance coverage from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Glossary: Anchorage Digital Bank is a digitally licensed bank in the United States, providing custody and settlement services for cryptocurrencies under regulatory oversight. It also issues specific stablecoins, such as USAT.

In September this year, Anchorage Digital chose LayerZero as its interoperability provider for issuing stablecoins, including USAT. The two companies have not yet specified which networks or blockchains EFY Finance will utilize for these new products.

The volume of crypto transactions in Latin America has increased significantly. According to a report by blockchain analysis company Chainalysis, from July 2022 to June 2025, the total value of crypto transactions in Latin America reached nearly $1.5 trillion. During this period, Brazil led the region in terms of crypto transaction value, with $318.8 billion involved. Followed by Argentina ($93.9 billion), Mexico ($71.2 billion), Venezuela ($44.6 billion), and Colombia ($44.2 billion).

Country Value of Crypto Transactions Received Brazil $318.8 billion Argentina $93.9 billion Mexico $71.2 billion Venezuela $44.6 billion Colombia $44.2 billion

Chainalysis attributes the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies in this region to persistent inflation, currency fluctuations, and frequent capital controls. In some countries, stablecoins account for a large portion of exchange purchases involving local currencies such as the Colombian peso, Argentine peso, and Brazilian real. According to Bitso’s 2025 report, US dollars supported 40% of all crypto purchases on their platform, surpassing Bitcoin’s 18%.

There have been previous examples of transactions between Tether and EFY Finance. For instance, in July 2026, Tether invested $20 million in the Argentine digital bank Ualá. In the same month, the American and Mexican branches of Hyundai Motor Company used the Avalanche blockchain to transfer $20,000 using USDT. The transaction was completed in approximately seven minutes.

EFY Finance and Tether have not yet announced any specific timelines for launching new financial products, plans for further expansion, or expected transaction volumes. Andrés Tobón emphasized that as EFY Finance continues to establish connections between digital dollars and traditional banking systems in the region, simplifying access to USDT and USAT for institutional investors will remain a priority.

According to Andrés Tobón, CEO of EFY Finance, stablecoins have become part of the Latin American financial ecosystem. However, whether they can be connected to traditional banks and payment networks will determine their broader impact.