Citi & Coinbase Set Their Sights on Stablecoins — Traditional Finance Meets Web3

In a major signal that banks and crypto firms are drawing closer, Citigroup and Coinbase are gearing up for deeper collaboration around stablecoins and tokenized payments. This isn’t just talk: the moves hint at a shift in how money moves in a digital world.

Oct 28, 2025 - 10:56
Citi & Coinbase Set Their Sights on Stablecoins — Traditional Finance Meets Web3

What’s Going On

  • Citigroup recently confirmed it is actively exploring the issuance of its own stablecoin and expanding custody services for assets backing digital tokens. 
  • On the crypto front, Coinbase is also ramping up its infrastructure—bringing stablecoin payments and integration possibilities to its platform and institutional clients.
  • Together, these developments suggest a blending of traditional banking rails with blockchain-native assets: stablecoins are born in crypto but increasingly adopted in banking.

Why It Matters

  • Payment Efficiency: Stablecoins on blockchain rails can make cross-border payments and settlements much faster and cheaper than standard means.
  • Backed by Real Assets: Regulators now expect stablecoins to be backed by safe assets (cash, Treasuries). With banks like Citigroup involved, legitimacy rises. 
  • Institutional Access: As heavyweight institutions step in, this opens doors for corporate treasuries, large asset managers and global firms to use digital tokens—not just retail crypto users.
  • Web3 Adoption Bridge: For crypto to go mainstream, it must meet banking standards. This alliance may help pull blockchain into everyday financial systems.

What to Watch

  • Will Citigroup actually launch a stablecoin? The timing and regulatory approval will matter.
  • How deeply will Coinbase integrate stablecoin payments for business customers?
  • Can stablecoin risk be kept low—audited reserves, transparency, regulatory compliance—especially with banks involved?
  • What role will tokenized deposits play—bank tokens that may rival stablecoins in scale? Some forecasts suggest this could be the next evolution.