Tether Invests $200M in Blackrock Neurotech to Accelerate Next-Gen Brain-Computer Interface Development

Zhitong Finance APP learned that Tether Holdings Ltd., the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, announced it has invested $200 million in Blackrock Neurotech, a leader in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. The funds will be used to launch new BCI products and support research and development efforts. In a statement posted on its website on Monday, Tether said the investment was made through its newly established venture capital arm, Tether Evo. The announcement did not disclose the specific valuation of Salt Lake City-based Blackrock Neurotech implied by the deal.

It is reported that Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, has recently been channeling its substantial free cash flow into early-stage technology ventures. Previously, the company had long held significant positions in U.S. Treasury bills and similar financial instruments to back its USDT stablecoin. Designed to maintain a peg of $1, USDT has a total circulating value exceeding $110 billion.

When it comes to brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, people often have to talk about Neuralink Corp, under Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Neuralink has arguably propelled BCI technology, once a relatively niche field, into a globally recognized hot investment area.

It is reported that Neuralink, owned by Elon Musk, livestreamed an update on its brain-computer interface (BCI) implant last month, demonstrating a quadriplegic man controlling video games with his thoughts. In March, Neuralink livestreamed an update on the condition of its first human BCI implant recipient, showing that the quadriplegic patient was already able to play games such as Civilization and chess using only his mind.

Blackrock Neurotech is arguably Neuralink’s most formidable competitor. Moreover, compared with Elon Musk’s Neuralink, Blackrock Neurotech can be regarded as a “pioneer” in the brain-computer interface (BCI) field in terms of its founding date. Neuralink was founded by Musk in 2016, whereas Blackrock Neurotech was established in 2008, giving it an earlier start and extensive clinical application experience in the BCI domain. The company has implanted its BCI devices in paralyzed patients across multiple countries, primarily for the treatment of severe conditions such as quadriplegia.

Blackrock Neurotech and Neuralink are direct competitors in the field of brain-computer interfaces (BCI). Both companies are dedicated to developing advanced technological devices capable of interacting directly with the human brain. Blackrock Neurotech boasts a longer research history and more extensive clinical application experience in the BCI domain. The microelectrode array technology developed by the company is currently widely used to help patients with severe paralysis restore motor and sensory functions, as well as to perform other complex interactive tasks, such as controlling external devices through thought. Furthermore, Blackrock Neurotech has implanted its devices in a significantly larger number of patients compared to Neuralink, demonstrating broader impact and greater maturity in medical BCI applications that lead the entire BCI industry.

In contrast, although Neuralink started later, it has garnered significant attention from global media and the public, thanks to the resources and financial backing provided by Elon Musk, while also continuously securing investments in the venture capital sector. Neuralink’s technology places greater emphasis on high-density electrode arrays and precision implantation techniques assisted by advanced robotics, with the aim of achieving more granular capture and control of brain activity. Neuralink recently launched its first-in-human clinical trial, marking a critical step in translating its technology from the laboratory to practical application.

In terms of competition, Blackrock’s BCI devices have been validated in a greater number of real-world clinical cases, while Neuralink is rapidly catching up, seeking to transform brain-computer interaction through its innovative technological breakthroughs.