Citi and Coinbase have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing digital asset payment infrastructure for institutional clients. The partnership will focus on integrating fiat pay-ins and pay-outs, supporting Coinbase’s on/off-ramp systems, and exploring new methods for fiat-to-stablecoin settlements, creating a seamless bridge between traditional finance and onchain ecosystems.
In its initial phase, the collaboration will allow Citi’s institutional clients to execute real-time transactions between fiat and digital assets through Coinbase’s payment rails. Both firms plan to expand these capabilities globally, eventually enabling 24/7 cross-border payments that operate independently of traditional banking hours.
Statements from Leadership
“The financial landscape is changing fast, and we’re thrilled to join Coinbase to explore new and innovative payment options for our global clients,” said Debopama Sen, Head of Payments, Services at Citi. “With more than 300 payment clearing networks across 94 markets globally, collaborating with Coinbase extends our ‘network of networks’ strategy and makes payments truly borderless.”
Coinbase’s Brian Foster, Global Head of Crypto-as-a-Service, added:
“Citi’s global reach and payments expertise make them an ideal partner as we advance digital asset capabilities. Together, we’re building solutions that simplify and expand access to digital payments, laying the groundwork for the next generation of financial infrastructure.”
Strategic Implications and Future Outlook
This partnership reinforces both Citi’s and Coinbase’s leadership in digital finance innovation, combining Citi’s institutional network and compliance expertise with Coinbase’s blockchain technology and liquidity access. It follows Citi’s ongoing expansion of 24/7 financial services, including Citi® Token Services and real-time USD Clearing, designed for continuous settlement and treasury optimization.
As the boundaries between fiat and digital assets continue to blur, the Citi–Coinbase partnership positions both firms at the forefront of the tokenized payment era, catering to global institutions seeking faster, compliant, and always-on settlement systems.