Coinbase is joining forces with one of America’s largest banks, Citi, to explore how digital assets can streamline global payments for institutional clients. The partnership, announced Monday, aims to test new ways of connecting traditional finance with blockchain technology — including methods for converting fiat currency into on-chain stablecoins for faster, more efficient payouts.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong called the collaboration a sign of the times.
“It’s not a debate anymore — crypto and stablecoins are the tools that will update the global financial system,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Excited to be collaborating with @Citi to work on improving stablecoin utility and digital asset adoption with their clients.”
It’s not a debate anymore - crypto and stablecoins are the tools that will update the global financial system.
— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) October 27, 2025
Excited to be collaborating with @Citi to work on improving stablecoin utility and digital asset adoption with their clients. https://t.co/IDpniQq5hh
According to the companies, the initial focus will be on developing digital payment solutions for Citi’s institutional network. The initiative could eventually expand to offer cross-border payment innovations and simplified access to blockchain-based assets. Updates on the project are expected in the coming months.
Brian Foster, Coinbase’s Global Head of Crypto-as-a-Service, said Citi’s scale makes it a natural fit for collaboration.
“Citi’s global network and expertise in payments make them an ideal partner as we work to advance digital asset capabilities,” he said. “By combining their reach with Coinbase’s leadership in digital assets, we’re creating solutions that can simplify and expand access to digital asset payments.”
Citi, which operates more than 300 payment clearing networks across 94 markets, framed the partnership as part of its broader “network of networks” strategy. Debopama Sen, Citi’s Head of Payments and Services, said the collaboration reflects the bank’s commitment to innovation.
“The financial landscape is changing fast, and we’re thrilled to join Coinbase to explore new and innovative payment options for our global clients,” Sen said. “We see collaborating with Coinbase as a natural extension of our approach, helping clients make payments as if there were no borders.”
For Coinbase, the move underscores a broader effort to diversify beyond trading and expand into payment infrastructure. The company has recently launched initiatives around prediction markets and on-chain services, signaling a push to stay competitive as traditional financial giants deepen their presence in digital assets.
As both firms explore how stablecoins could bridge conventional banking and blockchain networks, their partnership marks another step toward integrating crypto into the global financial system — not as a fringe experiment, but as a practical tool for institutional finance.
