- Tether invested in EFY Finance’s seed funding round to expand institutional adoption of USD₮ and USA₮ and strengthen connections between stablecoins and traditional banking systems across Latin America.
- EFY Finance provides cross-border payments, digital asset custody and banking infrastructure, supporting more than 25,000 active accounts and local settlement in 17 countries.
- The investment targets institutional stablecoin services in Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador, Panama and Ecuador, where EFY Finance already operates.
Tether has invested in Latin American financial infrastructure provider EFY Finance as part of the company’s seed funding round, seeking to expand institutional adoption of dollar-backed stablecoins and their integration with conventional banking systems.
The investment will support the development of payment and financial infrastructure connecting Tether’s USD₮ and USA₮ stablecoins with banks, businesses and institutional customers across Latin America. Financial terms were not disclosed.
EFY Finance provides stablecoin-based cross-border payments, financial accounts and digital asset custody. Its infrastructure supports deposits and withdrawals between fiat currencies and stablecoins, over-the-counter transactions, digital wallets and payment cards.
The company operates across more than 12 currencies and payment corridors, with settlement capabilities connecting to local bank accounts in 17 countries. It holds a Digital Asset Service Provider license in El Salvador and reports more than 25,000 active individual and business accounts.
Tether identified Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador, Panama and Ecuador as priority markets, citing EFY Finance’s existing operations and customer relationships in those countries.
Tether expands institutional stablecoin infrastructure in Latin America
The investment focuses on improving access to dollar-backed digital assets through regulated financial infrastructure, particularly in markets where inflation, currency volatility and capital restrictions have increased demand for alternatives to local currencies.
Across Latin America, the US dollar is a lifeline against inflation and capital controls. USD₮ and USA₮ are how people access it, but doing so simply and reliably takes regulated infrastructure, banking connections, and real distribution.
“That is the gap EFY Finance is positioned to close, bringing the dollar within easier reach across the region,” Paolo Ardoino added.
For financial institutions and businesses, the proposed expansion centers on connecting stablecoins with domestic payment networks, conventional bank accounts and international settlement services.
Andrés Tobón, co-founder and CEO of EFY Finance, said stablecoins are already being used within Latin America’s financial system, but their wider institutional application depends on better integration with existing financial services.
The challenge now is making them work seamlessly with the financial systems businesses use every day. That means connecting digital dollars with bank accounts, local payment networks, cards, and cross-border settlement.
Andrés Tobón, co-founder and CEO of EFY Finance
He added that Tether’s participation as a strategic investor would help EFY Finance expand access to USD₮ and USA₮ throughout the region.
Latin American cryptocurrency transactions approach $1.5 trillion
Latin America has developed into an important market for stablecoin adoption, supported by demand for dollar-denominated assets and cross-border financial services.
According to Chainalysis figures cited by Tether, the region recorded nearly $1.5 trillion in cryptocurrency transaction volume between July 2022 and June 2025.
Stablecoins account for more than half of cryptocurrency purchases on exchanges, according to the announcement, reflecting their use for payments, savings and exposure to the U.S. dollar.
The investment also extends infrastructure supporting USA₮, a dollar-backed stablecoin issued by Anchorage Digital Bank N.A., a federally chartered U.S. bank, with Tether’s support.
USA₮ was developed for the U.S. market and designed to comply with American regulatory standards. It operates within Tether’s broader stablecoin ecosystem alongside USD₮, although the two tokens have different issuers and regulatory structures.
For EFY Finance, the investment will support its existing network of payment corridors, banking connections and custody services as it pursues greater institutional participation in stablecoin-based transactions across Latin America.
EFY Finance is a financial services platform for individuals and businesses focused on cross-border payments, currency conversion, and multicurrency accounts. It connects local banking networks with stablecoin settlement, allowing users to receive funds, convert between fiat currencies and digital assets, and send money to bank accounts or compatible wallets. Its products include a digital asset wallet and the EFY Card for international spending.
For corporate clients, EFY provides consolidated balance management, bulk payments, role-based permissions, approval workflows, and transaction reconciliation.
Businesses can connect the platform to their systems through APIs and webhooks to automate collections and payments. Digital asset custody uses MPC-based infrastructure, while services are delivered through operating entities and regulated partners, with availability varying by jurisdiction.
