Juventus FC, one of Italy's most iconic football clubs, found an unexpected backer in the cryptocurrency space. Tether, the issuer of the $140 billion stablecoin USDT, has acquired a minority stake in the club, signaling a broader expansion into sports investments.

The announcement sent Juventus shares climbing and sparked a dramatic rally in the club's fan token, highlighting growing intersections between crypto and traditional industries.

Tether's Investment Sparks Market Reaction

Tether's investment arm, Tether Investments, confirmed its strategic stake in Juventus on Friday. The club's shares, traded on the Italian stock exchange, jumped 2.5% following the news, Coindesk reported.

Meanwhile, the Juventus fan token (JUV) saw an explosive 180% surge in minutes before pulling back slightly, according to CoinGecko data. Tether's CEO, Paolo Ardoino, emphasized the company's vision of integrating digital assets and emerging technologies into the sports industry.

Juventus has long been under the control of the Agnelli family, with Exor, their investment firm, holding a dominant 64% stake in the club. Notably, Exor did not sell any shares to Tether, according to a spokesperson.

The football giant has faced significant financial hurdles in recent years, raising nearly €900 million from shareholders across three cash calls to stabilize its balance sheet. The club reported a €200 million loss in the last financial year ending June 30.

Tether's Expanding Investment

Tether has moved far beyond its core stablecoin business, reporting $13 billion in profits last year. The company has been aggressively expanding into artificial intelligence, payments, and energy.

The Juventus stake marks another step in diversifying its investment portfolio. The deal also arrives amid Juventus' efforts to recover from a turbulent period. After dominating Serie A for nearly a decade, the club was reportedly hit by an accounting scandal related to player trading and salary payments, leading to a ban from European competitions last season.

Currently ranked fifth in Serie A, Juventus is also competing in the Champions League knockout phase against PSV Eindhoven. The sports industry has increasingly embraced cryptocurrency firms as sponsors and investors.

Fan tokens, blockchain partnerships, and crypto-backed sponsorships have become common in football. Tether's stake in Juventus reinforces this trend as digital asset firms seek mainstream exposure through high-profile sports ventures.