Tether backs AIsa in $9M-plus AI payments funding round

Tether Capital and AI infrastructure firm HIVEN have joined AIsa’s funding extension, taking the AI payments startup’s reported funding to more than $9 million. AIsa previously reported $6.5 million in funding in July; the latest investment amounts, valuation and ownership stakes were not disclosed. Earlier investors include Alibaba, Tribe Capital, Sumitomo Corporation, Draper Associates and Saison Capital. AIsa builds infrastructure that lets enterprise AI agents discover and access paid data, models, software and APIs, with usage-based payments, spending limits and transaction oversight. Tether says the platform supports more than 250,000 operating agents, offers access to over 5,000 services and has processed more than 100 million transactions; these figures have not been independently audited. Payments can use conventional currencies or stablecoins, but the companies did not disclose stablecoin volumes or confirm whether transactions settle in USDT. The investment adds to Tether’s interest in AI, programmable money and AI-powered payments. AIsa is expanding its marketplace, payment systems and enterprise controls, and has begun enterprise pilot programmes. The deal signals interest in AI agent payment infrastructure, but undisclosed funding terms and transaction volumes make its direct impact on crypto markets—and USDT in particular—limited for now.