What began as a landmark investment in European football is now facing tensions. Tether Holdings SA, the company behind the world’s largest stablecoin, has reportedly hit a wall in its efforts to gain influence at Juventus Football Club, according to a Bloomberg report.
Tether declared its stake in Juventus back in February 2025, and by April, the firm had accumulated a 10.7% holding—worth an estimated €128 million ($149 million) as of Monday’s market close. This makes Tether the second-largest shareholder in the Italian football giant, trailing only Exor NV, the Agnelli family’s investment company, which has owned Juventus for over a century.
CEO Ardoino Says Club Has Gone Quiet
Despite the sizable investment, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said in a recent interview that communication between Tether, Exor, and the club’s leadership has been “very, very limited.” He also revealed that Tether’s proposal to participate in a potential capital raise and its request for a board seat have been met with silence.
“Our interest is in ensuring the long-term success of the club,” a Tether spokesperson stated. “We believe having a voice in key decisions is part of fulfilling that responsibility.”
Historic First for European Football and Crypto
Prior to this year, no major European football club had ever welcomed a crypto firm as a top shareholder. Tether’s entry was seen as a high-profile signal of digital asset firms expanding their reach into traditional sectors like sports and entertainment.
However, nearly six months in, the partnership appears strained. Without board representation or participation in club-level financial planning, Tether’s long-term ambitions to influence the club’s direction remain in question.
Whether Juventus will respond or continue to keep its new investor at arm’s length could shape the future of crypto-corporate relationships in professional sports.
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Kosta Gushterov
Reporter at Coindoo
Kosta has been a part of the team since 2021 and has solidified his position with a thirst for knowledge, incredible dedication to his work and a “detective-like” mindset. He not only covers a wide range of trending topics, he also creates reviews, PR articles and educational content. His work has also been referenced by other news outlets.
Source: https://coindoo.com/tether-becomes-juventus-no-2-shareholder-but-gets-shut-out/