Tetra Digital Group Aims to Pioneer Regulated Stablecoin Issuance in Canada

Audio By Carbonatix

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 8, 2025--

Tetra Digital Group, one of Canada's leading digital asset infrastructure providers; parent company of Tetra Trust and Tetra Unity, today announced the closing of an investment of approximately $10 million from leading Canadian fintechs and financial service providers, including Urbana Corporation, Wealthsimple, Purpose Unlimited, Shakepay, ATB Financial, National Bank and Shopify. As part of the investment, Tetra, with its partners, is aiming to be the first financial institution to launch a Canadian fiat-backed stablecoin in early 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250908974772/en/

This marks the first time in Canada that a regulated financial institution will work towards issuing a stablecoin and as part of a broader effort – we’re inviting additional qualified institutions to join and help shape the future of Canadian digital payments. The approach will create a reliable, institutional-grade solution for Canadian dollar payments and remittances at scale; aligns with the approach taken by other G7 countries; and maintains the highest standards of Canadian regulatory compliance and consumer protection.

The new Tetra stablecoin will leverage Tetra Digital Group's institutional-grade custody infrastructure to provide businesses and consumers with a stable, secure, and fully compliant digital currency backed 1-for-1 by Canadian dollar reserves.

“Today marks a pivotal moment for Canadian financial innovation,” said Didier Lavallée, CEO of Tetra Digital Group. “By bringing together many of Canada's most trusted financial institutions and companies, we're not just launching a stablecoin – we're supporting homegrown solutions, built by Canadians, for Canadians and ensuring we maintain economic sovereignty.”

“Urbana Corporation, as a significant shareholder of Tetra Digital Group, is extremely optimistic about this exciting new initiative both for the company and Canada as a whole,” said Thomas S. Caldwell, C.M., Chairman, Urbana Corporation.

“This partnership represents a defining moment for Canada’s digital economy,” said Blair Wiley, Chief Legal Officer at Wealthsimple. “Tetra has sparked nationwide enthusiasm across century-old institutions, tech leaders, traditional financial services and those at the forefront of financial innovation. It’s rare for such a broad group of high-quality companies to work together on a project like this. The depth of experience at the table will create a truly Canadian stablecoin solution that will open up new opportunities for businesses, consumers and homegrown talent.”

The $10 million investment from these industry leaders demonstrates strong confidence in Tetra’s positioning as a leading brand for digital assets infrastructure in Canada.

“This is a groundbreaking initiative for Canada’s financial future, and we’re thrilled to be part of it. Partnering with Tetra and other leading institutions to build a trusted Canadian dollar stablecoin is a natural extension of Purpose’s mission to democratize access to financial innovation and strengthen Canada’s role as a global leader in digital assets.” — Som Seif, CEO of Purpose Unlimited.

“At Shakepay, we’ve always believed in building trusted financial infrastructure that gives Canadians more choice in how they move, hold, and grow their money,” said Jean Amiouny, CEO of Shakepay. “This partnership reflects our commitment to pioneering technology that expands access to modern financial tools and doing so with the regulatory safeguards and user trust Canadians expect. We're proud to be part of a homegrown initiative that positions Canada at the forefront of digital financial innovation.”

Tetra Trust will act as issuer of the Canadian stablecoin, and will ensure full compliance with Canadian financial regulations while providing the stability and utility that businesses and consumers demand from digital asset solutions.

“As Canada's financial landscape evolves, ATB Financial is committed to supporting solutions that combine innovation with regulatory rigor,” said Daniel Ordibehesht, Head of Strategy, Corporate Development, & Ventures of ATB Financial. “We are proud to be part of the development of a regulated Canadian stablecoin, which will provide a secure and reliable foundation for digital payments and commerce, creating new opportunities for our clients and Canadian businesses.”

“National Bank is proud to join this stablecoin initiative with leading fintech partners,” said Joshuah Lebacq, Principal at NAventures. “Together, we will combine innovation with the safeguards needed to support Canadians and businesses in the future.”

Tetra Digital Group's institutional-grade digital asset solutions includes Tetra Trust, Canada's first regulated digital asset custodian, and Tetra Unity, a composable digital asset orchestration platform. This integrated approach enables the company to provide end-to-end digital asset solutions while maintaining the regulatory excellence that institutional clients require.

Key Benefits of the Canadian Stablecoin Initiative

• Regulatory Leadership: First stablecoin that will be issued by a regulated Canadian financial institution through Tetra Trust.
• Enhanced Security: Built on Tetra Trust's institutional-grade custody and security infrastructure
• Canadian Sovereignty: Reserves held in Canada under Canadian regulatory oversight
• Industry Leadership: Backed by Canada's most innovative fintech companies committed to serving Canadian businesses and consumers
• Global Competitiveness: Positions Canadian businesses for success in the digital economy

About Tetra Digital Group

Tetra Digital Group is Canada's leading institutional digital technology and financial services provider, parent company of Tetra Trust and Tetra Unity. The company is focused on building world-class digital asset infrastructure that combines regulatory excellence with technological innovation, providing comprehensive solutions across custody, orchestration, and digital currency services. For more information, visit tetratrust.com.

About the Investment Partners

Urbana Corporation (TSX and CSE: URB, URB.A) is a diversified corporation with a focus on financial services, information services and innovative technologies. The long-term goal of Urbana is to seek and acquire investments for income and capital appreciation through a combination of public and private investments. The portfolio mix of actively managed publicly traded securities with private equity investments has generated significant long-term investment results. For more information, visit www.urbanacorp.com.

Wealthsimple is one of Canada’s fastest growing and most trusted money management platforms. The company offers a full suite of simple, sophisticated financial products across managed investing, do-it-yourself trading, cryptocurrency, tax filing, spending and saving. Wealthsimple currently serves 3 million Canadians and holds over $80-billion in assets. The company was founded in 2014 by a team of financial experts and technology entrepreneurs, and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. To learn more, visit www.wealthsimple.com.

Purpose Unlimited is a bold collective reshaping the future of finance to empower Canadians—advisors, investors, and entrepreneurs alike—to live with confidence and pursue their dreams. Founded and led by entrepreneur Som Seif, Purpose is redefining the financial industry by putting people first and delivering innovative solutions that shape the future of finance. With cutting-edge technology and a diverse suite of products and services, Purpose gives Canadians the tools, insights, and confidence they need to go further—whether it’s growing their wealth, building their business, or helping others invest. Purpose’s businesses span asset and wealth management and small business financing, including Purpose Investments, Driven by Purpose, and Advisor Solutions by Purpose. For more information, visit purpose-unlimited.com.

Shakepay is a Montreal-based fintech bridging the gap between Bitcoin and everyday financial services. Since 2015, Shakepay has made it easy for over 1.4 million Canadians to buy, earn, and use Bitcoin as part of their daily lives, whether to save for the future, pay bills, or shop with confidence. Shakepay is a registered investment dealer and the first crypto-native platform to become a member of Payments Canada, reinforcing its leadership at the intersection of Bitcoin and traditional finance. By combining intuitive technology, seamless user experiences, and a deep commitment to financial empowerment, Shakepay is helping Canadians take control of their money and participate in the future of finance.

ATB Financial Powering possibilities for our clients, communities, and beyond is what drives us at ATB Financial. As a leading Alberta-based financial institution with over $100 billion in total assets and assets under management, our success comes from more than 5,000 team members who deliver exceptional experiences to over 837,000 clients across our Personal and Business Banking, ATB Wealth Management, and ATB Capital Markets businesses. ATB Financial provides expert advice and services through our extensive branch network and agencies, our 24-hour Client Care Centre, four entrepreneur centers, and our digital banking options. ATB Financial is bronze certified as part of the Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations commissioned by the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business. More information about ATB can be found at atb.com.

National Bank of Canada with $553 billion in assets as at July 31, 2025, is one of Canada's six systemically important banks. The Bank has approximately 34,000 employees in knowledge-intensive positions and operates three business segments in Canada: Personal and Commercial Banking, Wealth Management and Financial Markets. A fourth segment, U.S. Specialty Finance and International, complements the growth of its domestic operations. Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank's activities at nbc.ca or via social media.

Shopify is a leading global commerce company that provides essential internet infrastructure for commerce, offering trusted tools to start, scale, market, and run a retail business of any size. Shopify makes commerce better for everyone with a platform and services that are engineered for speed, customization, reliability, and security, while delivering a better shopping experience for consumers online, in store, and everywhere in between. Shopify powers millions of businesses in more than 175 countries and is trusted by brands such as BarkBox, BevMo, ButcherBox, Carrier, JB Hi-Fi, Meta, SKIMS, Supreme, Vuori, and many more. For more information visit www.shopify.com

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250908974772/en/

CONTACT: Press Inquiries:

Gina Chung

Tetra Digital Group

[email protected]

KEYWORD: NORTH AMERICA CANADA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: CRYPTOCURRENCY PAYMENTS FINANCE BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TECHNOLOGY FINTECH DIGITAL CASH MANAGEMENT/DIGITAL ASSETS

SOURCE: Tetra Digital Group

Copyright Business Wire 2025.

PUB: 09/08/2025 09:00 AM/DISC: 09/08/2025 08:59 AM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250908974772/en