Citi Taps Coinbase to Streamline Fiat–Crypto Transfers for Institutional Clients

Citi and Coinbase have agreed to collaborate on digital asset payment capabilities for institutional clients. The companies plan to streamline how organizations move funds between fiat and digital asset platforms.

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According to the announcement, their first goal targets a pain point for large organizations: moving money efficiently between fiat accounts and digital asset platforms.

Enabling Access to Coinbase on and off Ramps

The collaboration will focus on simplifying pay-ins and pay-outs, improving access to Coinbase’s on- and off-ramps, and introducing better orchestration for payment flows around the clock.

The two firms plan to share more details in the coming months. Early discussions include exploring alternative ways to connect fiat balances to on-chain stablecoin payouts. If launched, such features could offer institutions more flexibility in settling transactions.

“The financial landscape is changing fast, and we’re thrilled to join Coinbase to explore new and innovative payment options for our global clients,” commented Debopama Sen, Head of Payments, Services at Citi.Debopama Sen, Source: LinkedIn

“With more than 300 payment clearing networks across 94 markets globally, we see collaborating with Coinbase as a natural extension of our ‘network of networks’ approach, further supporting our clients to make payments as if there were no borders,” she explained.

The collaboration builds on Citi’s broader strategy of responding to a financial environment in which clients expect real-time, 24/7 money movement. The bank has already introduced services like Citi Token Services and 24/7 USD Clearing to support round-the-clock transactions for institutional clients.

Context for Citi’s Move into Digital Money

Citi serves a large share of the global technology and e-commerce economy. The bank works with 90% of the top e-commerce companies and 15 of the 20 largest fintech firms worldwide, positioning it as a significant gateway for corporate payment innovation.

If successful, this partnership could accelerate the adoption of digital asset settlement options across global enterprises. It also signals rising interest among major financial institutions in integrating digital money infrastructure, rather than building isolated solutions.

Both firms intend to expand the initiative beyond Citi’s institutional clients over time, allowing more corporate users to access blended fiat and digital payment rails.

Read more: Citi “Is Looking at the Issuance” of a Stablecoin: CEO Confirms

Additionally, Citi recently expressed interest in evaluating the potential launch of a bank-issued stablecoin as part of a broader push into blockchain-based finance, CEO Jane Fraser said. Fraser commented that the bank is also exploring tokenized deposits and crypto custody services, joining other major U.S. lenders – including JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo – that are assessing stablecoin opportunities.Jane Fraser, CEO at Citi (Photo: Wikimedia)

“We really welcome the administration’s willingness to allow banks to participate in the digital asset space more easily,” Fraser said, referring to President Trump’s Genius Act – a bill that introduces a regulatory structure for stablecoin issuers.

She noted that a shift in the U.S. regulatory environment has made it easier for banks to pursue digital asset initiatives. She welcomed the White House’s openness to allowing banks to participate more fully in the sector.