- Tether International acquired SoftBank’s stake in XXI, becoming the dominant shareholder of the Bitcoin-focused company.
- SoftBank’s board representatives stepped down at closing, reshaping XXI’s governance ahead of its next development phase.
- Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino confirmed deepened conviction in XXI, calling it a top opportunity to build a Bitcoin-native public company.
Tether International has expanded its grip on Twenty One Capital (XXI) by acquiring SoftBank’s stake in the Bitcoin-focused company.
The transaction, completed on May 20, 2026, gives Tether stronger control over XXI as the company pursues its long-term Bitcoin strategy.
SoftBank’s board representatives stepped down following the deal, per XXI’s shareholder agreement.
This move positions Tether as the dominant force behind one of crypto’s most closely watched public company experiments.
Tether Tightens Its Hold on a Bitcoin-Native Public Company
Tether International was already the controlling shareholder of XXI before this transaction. By acquiring SoftBank’s stake, it has now consolidated ownership further within its crypto empire. This gives Tether a firmer hand in shaping XXI’s strategic direction going forward.
Tether International Deepens Commitment to Twenty One Capital Through Acquisition of SoftBank’s Stake
Read more: https://t.co/vB1JgtSCAD
— Tether (@tether) May 20, 2026
XXI was built from the ground up around a Bitcoin-centric model. Tether has consistently described XXI as one of the most important opportunities to build a public company around Bitcoin. That conviction has only grown stronger as the company matures beyond its formation stage.
SoftBank’s exit changes the ownership composition significantly. With its representatives leaving the board at closing, Tether now operates with fewer institutional co-shareholders around the table. That shift gives Tether more room to steer XXI entirely on its own terms.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino addressed the development directly. “SoftBank’s involvement gave XXI the kind of institutional depth that few early-stage companies ever have,” Ardoino said.
He credited their global investment experience for bringing discipline during XXI’s most critical early period.
A Calculated Power Move Ahead of XXI’s Next Phase
Tether’s acquisition of SoftBank’s stake is not simply a financial transaction. It reflects a deliberate expansion of Tether’s influence across the Bitcoin investment landscape. The timing also points to a company ready to move aggressively into its next chapter.
SoftBank had played a foundational role since XXI’s earliest days. Its track record across technology, infrastructure, financial services, and communications added institutional weight to XXI.
That credibility helped the company establish itself during a sensitive period of early development.
Ardoino acknowledged SoftBank’s broader contribution while looking ahead with confidence. “Their experience backing some of the most consequential technology companies in the world brought credibility, perspective, and discipline to XXI,” he stated.
He added that SoftBank leaves behind a company with a stronger foundation and a clearer mandate.
Tether’s move also reflects broader confidence in Bitcoin as the anchor of a public company model. XXI is built to operate around Bitcoin from its core, and Tether’s expanded stake reinforces that thesis.
“Tether’s conviction in XXI has only deepened, and we look forward to building on that foundation as the company enters its next chapter,” Ardoino concluded. With SoftBank’s chapter now closed, XXI moves forward firmly under the Tether umbrella.
