Tether Invests in Orionx to Boost Crypto Adoption in Latin America

Tether, a leading entity in the digital asset industry, has announced a pivotal investment in Orionx, a prominent Chilean digital asset exchange known for its specialization in cross-border payments. This investment highlights Tether’s ongoing commitment to promoting financial inclusion and fortifying digital payment channels across emerging markets, according to Tether.

Enhancing Financial Infrastructure

Orionx, operating across Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico, integrates cryptocurrencies into both business-to-business and retail systems, offering cost-effective financial tools. The investment, marking the closure of Orionx’s Series A funding round exclusively led by Tether, aims to consolidate regional operations, enhance technological capabilities, and scale stablecoin-powered infrastructure for remittances, payment collection, and treasury services in Latin America (LATAM).

Addressing Economic Challenges

Chainalysis reports that LATAM received nearly $415 billion in cryptocurrency from July 2023 to June 2024, with stablecoins dominating indirect flows from local to global exchanges, particularly in Brazil and Argentina. Economic challenges such as currency devaluation, inflation, and public debt in countries like Argentina have driven users toward stablecoins for stability. Brazil has also seen a rise in institutional crypto activity, facilitated by evolving regulatory frameworks and increasing demand for stablecoin-based B2B payments.

Tackling Financial Exclusion

Despite advancements, LATAM still has one of the world’s highest proportions of unbanked adults. Many people remain underbanked due to strict documentation requirements, limited access to financial institutions, and high transaction fees. Stablecoins provide a crucial alternative, enabling instant, secure, and affordable money transfers without traditional banking systems.

Tether’s Strategic Vision

Tether’s investment in Orionx seeks to bridge these gaps. The company’s “Remittances as a Service” platform offers businesses near-instant, low-cost cross-border payments, supporting seamless transaction processing and simplified onboarding. By enabling stablecoin settlements, Orionx provides practical use cases for users, with Tether scaling this impact.

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, emphasized the company’s mission to expand financial inclusion by investing in technologies and teams that deliver real-world value through stablecoins in emerging markets. “By closing Orionx’s Series A round, we are supporting a high-impact company and advancing our vision of making stablecoin-powered financial tools accessible across the region,” Ardoino stated.

Joel Vainstein, CEO of Orionx, expressed pride in being chosen as part of Tether’s portfolio, highlighting the strategic collaboration as a pivotal moment for their B2B vision. “With Tether, the global leader in stablecoins, we can accelerate growth with digital, flexible, and scalable solutions,” Vainstein noted.

This collaboration underscores a shared mission to empower individuals and businesses with reliable alternatives to traditional banking through self-custodial, dollar-pegged digital assets. As stablecoins become increasingly integrated into daily financial interactions in LATAM, Tether remains committed to leading the charge for inclusive financial and technological innovations.

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