Tether Strengthens Latin American Presence with Strategic Investment in Chilean Exchange Orionx

The global stablecoin leader Tether has made another significant move to expand its footprint in emerging markets, announcing a strategic investment in Orionx, one of Chile's premier digital asset exchanges and financial infrastructure providers. The investment, disclosed on June 3, 2025, marks the completion of Orionx's Series A funding round and represents Tether's latest effort to advance cryptocurrency adoption across Latin America.

Understanding the Investment

Tether's investment in Orionx goes beyond traditional venture capital funding, representing a strategic partnership aimed at addressing critical financial infrastructure gaps across Latin America. The deal, which exclusively led Orionx's Series A round, positions Tether to leverage the Chilean company's established regional presence and technological capabilities to accelerate stablecoin adoption in one of the world's most underbanked regions.

Orionx operates across four key Latin American markets: Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico. The company has built a comprehensive digital asset ecosystem that integrates cryptocurrencies into both business-to-business (B2B) and retail financial systems, offering cost-effective alternatives to traditional banking services.

The Latin American Cryptocurrency Landscape

The timing of this investment reflects the remarkable growth trajectory of cryptocurrency adoption across Latin America. According to data from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, the region received nearly $415 billion in cryptocurrency transactions between July 2023 and June 2024, with stablecoins representing the majority of indirect flows between local and global exchanges.

This surge in cryptocurrency adoption stems from several interconnected economic factors plaguing the region. Countries like Argentina have experienced rapid currency devaluation, rising inflation rates, and mounting public debt, driving both retail and institutional users to seek stability through dollar-pegged digital assets. Similarly, Brazil has witnessed significant growth in institutional cryptocurrency activity, supported by increasingly mature regulatory frameworks and growing demand for stablecoin-based cross-border business payments.

Addressing Financial Inclusion Challenges

Despite the region's embrace of digital assets, Latin America continues to face significant financial inclusion challenges. The region maintains the world's second-highest proportion of unbanked adults, with millions of individuals and businesses lacking access to traditional financial services due to strict documentation requirements, limited institutional presence, geographical barriers, and prohibitively high transaction fees.

Stablecoins present a compelling solution to these systemic issues. Unlike traditional banking systems that require extensive documentation and physical presence, stablecoin-based platforms allow individuals and businesses to send and receive money instantly, securely, and affordably without navigating complex registration processes or relying on conventional banking infrastructure.

Orionx's Technology and Service Offerings

Orionx has positioned itself as a comprehensive financial technology provider, offering what it terms "Remittances as a Service" platform. This infrastructure enables businesses to provide their customers with near-instantaneous, low-cost cross-border payment solutions. The company's technology stack includes seamless transaction processing capabilities, local fiat currency on and off-ramps, and simplified customer onboarding procedures.

The platform's ability to enable institutions and merchants to settle transactions using stablecoins creates practical, real-world use cases for digital assets beyond speculative trading. This approach aligns with the broader industry trend toward utility-focused cryptocurrency applications that solve genuine economic problems.

Strategic Implications for Tether

This investment represents part of Tether's broader strategy to establish a dominant position in emerging markets where stablecoins can provide the most significant value. By supporting regional infrastructure providers like Orionx, Tether is building a network of strategic partnerships that facilitate USDT adoption while addressing local market needs.

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, emphasized the investment's alignment with the company's mission to foster financial inclusion through stablecoin technology. The partnership enables Tether to scale its impact across Latin America while supporting a company that delivers tangible value to underserved communities.

Future Growth Prospects

The collaboration between Tether and Orionx comes at a pivotal moment for cryptocurrency adoption in Latin America. As traditional financial systems struggle to serve the region's population effectively, stablecoin-based solutions are becoming increasingly embedded in daily financial interactions.

Joel Vainstein, CEO of Orionx, highlighted the partnership's potential to accelerate the company's business-to-business vision, noting exponential growth in demand from companies seeking faster and more cost-efficient solutions for payment collection, distribution, and treasury management across the region.

The funding will enable Orionx to consolidate its regional operations, enhance its technological capabilities, and scale its stablecoin-powered infrastructure. This expansion is expected to increase access to digital assets across Latin America while building meaningful pathways for individuals and businesses to engage with the global economy.

Broader Context of Tether's Investment Strategy

The Orionx investment continues Tether's pattern of strategic investments in companies that advance stablecoin adoption in underserved markets. Earlier in 2025, Tether backed self-custodial cryptocurrency wallet Zengo in February and invested in Fizen Limited, a fintech company focused on digital payments and crypto self-custody wallets, in April.

These investments collectively demonstrate Tether's commitment to building a comprehensive ecosystem that supports stablecoin adoption beyond simple token issuance. By investing in infrastructure providers, wallet technologies, and regional exchanges, Tether is creating an integrated network that facilitates seamless stablecoin usage across diverse markets and use cases.

Regulatory and Market Considerations

The investment occurs against a backdrop of evolving regulatory frameworks across Latin America. Countries like Brazil have developed increasingly sophisticated approaches to cryptocurrency regulation, providing clarity for institutional adoption while maintaining consumer protections. These regulatory developments support the growth of legitimate cryptocurrency businesses and infrastructure providers like Orionx.

The partnership also reflects the growing recognition that stablecoins can serve as a bridge between traditional financial systems and digital asset ecosystems. By providing dollar-pegged stability without the volatility associated with other cryptocurrencies, stablecoins offer a practical entry point for individuals and businesses new to digital assets.

Conclusion

Tether's investment in Orionx represents more than a financial transaction; it embodies a strategic vision for cryptocurrency adoption in emerging markets. By supporting regional infrastructure providers that address genuine economic challenges, Tether is positioning itself at the forefront of a transformation in how underserved populations access and interact with the global financial system.

As stablecoins become increasingly integrated into daily financial activities across Latin America, partnerships like this one between Tether and Orionx will likely serve as models for cryptocurrency adoption strategies in other emerging markets worldwide. The success of this collaboration could demonstrate the potential for stablecoin-powered financial infrastructure to bridge traditional banking gaps and create more inclusive economic opportunities across the developing world.

The investment underscores the evolving nature of the cryptocurrency industry, shifting from speculative trading toward practical utility applications that solve real-world problems. For Latin America's millions of unbanked and underbanked individuals, this partnership represents a significant step toward financial inclusion through innovative digital asset solutions.