Tether Leads $15M Investment in AI Payments Startup Mural

Tether has led a $15 million Series A funding round in Mural, a financial technology startup developing payment infrastructure for AI agents and digital financial services.

The investment brings Mural’s total funding to $28 million, according to an announcement released Tuesday. North Island Ventures and existing investors also participated in the latest round.

Based in New York, Mural was founded by former Palantir engineers. The company provides tools that help fintech businesses and digital platforms manage accounts, process payments, verify identities and meet regulatory requirements across traditional banking systems and blockchain networks.

Its customers include payroll platform Deel and web browser developer Opera, highlighting the potential applications of its technology across different digital services.

The latest funding comes as financial companies explore agentic finance, a model in which artificial intelligence systems can initiate and complete financial transactions on behalf of individuals and businesses. These systems could eventually handle tasks such as paying invoices, managing expenses and moving funds between accounts with limited human involvement.

However, allowing AI agents to move money introduces questions about security, authorization and accountability. Companies need safeguards to ensure automated systems operate within approved limits and comply with financial regulations.

Mural’s infrastructure is designed to address these concerns. Its tools allow businesses to establish transaction limits, restrict which parties can receive payments and require additional approval for larger transfers. These controls give companies a way to manage automated payments while maintaining oversight of financial activity.

Tether’s investment reflects its interest in the infrastructure supporting the wider digital payments industry, extending beyond its core stablecoin business.

As AI-powered applications become more capable of carrying out tasks independently, reliable connections to existing payment networks, banking services and compliance systems could become increasingly important. Stablecoins and blockchain technology may also provide additional ways for these applications to transfer value.

For Tether, backing Mural offers exposure to a developing market where automated software could become a more active participant in financial transactions. The investment also highlights growing interest in combining AI agents with the payment systems needed to move money securely between digital platforms and traditional financial institutions.