Tether, the stablecoin issuer, has led a $15 million Series A funding round for Mural, a payment infrastructure company focused on AI-driven financial services. The investment brings Mural's total funding to $28 million, with participation from North Island Ventures and existing investors. Founded by former Palantir engineers, Mural provides tools for managing payments, identity verification, and regulatory compliance across traditional banking and blockchain networks. Its clients include payroll platform Deel and browser developer Opera. The funding aligns with Tether's strategy to expand into agentic finance, where AI systems can execute transactions on behalf of individuals and businesses. Mural's platform allows companies to set transaction limits, restrict counterparties, and require additional approvals for larger payments, addressing concerns around authorization and accountability. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino emphasized the importance of connecting AI agents to existing financial systems. The investment marks Tether's growing interest in infrastructure beyond stablecoin issuance, particularly as programmable payments emerge as a potential use case for AI-powered financial services.
The funding comes as financial technology companies explore 'agentic finance, ' a concept where AI systems can initiate and execute transactions autonomously. The investment reflects Tether's broader strategy to support the development of financial technologies that integrate AI with traditional financial systems. As AI continues to reshape financial services, companies like Mural are at the forefront of creating solutions that balance innovation with regulatory oversight.
Tether's move into AI-focused payment infrastructure highlights a growing trend in the financial sector where technology is being leveraged to enhance efficiency and compliance. The investment underscores the importance of secure and transparent payment systems in an era where AI is increasingly involved in financial transactions. As Mural expands its offerings, it aims to provide a robust framework for companies to manage payments in a digital landscape that is rapidly evolving.
The funding also signals a shift in Tether's strategic focus, moving beyond stablecoin issuance to support the development of financial infrastructure that can handle AI-driven transactions. The investment by Tether is a significant step in the evolution of agentic finance, where AI agents are expected to play a more prominent role in financial transactions.