Citi Partners with Coinbase to Boost Digital Payments for Institutional Clients

Citi is teaming up with Coinbase to integrate crypto rails into its institutional payments infrastructure, targeting corporate treasuries and institutional payments flows.

This move signals that major banks are no longer just observing but actively embedding crypto infrastructure. Institutional payment flows and crypto custody are becoming a combined product offering, potentially increasing demand for treasury services and settlement tokens.

Bitcoin Consolidates Near $114K Ahead of FOMC Meeting

Bitcoin slipped approximately 1.4% to around $113,873, while Ethereum dipped to approximately $4,096 as traders remain cautious ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. The total crypto-market cap fell approximately 1.35% to $3.84 trillion.

The consolidation suggests market participants are in a wait-and-see mode. Macro events, such as interest rates and policy changes, are still driving crypto more than token fundamentals. A strong FOMC outcome could trigger a breakout or breakdown, indicating that the structural risk is high.

XRP Shows Breakout Signs as Exchange Reserves Drop

XRP edged higher to approximately $2.63, with trading volume rising approximately 26% above weekly averages. Exchange reserves have fallen approximately 3.36% since early October, which is a historically bullish signal.

Supply leaving exchanges usually means fewer tokens are available for sale, tightening supply. Combined with increased volume, this sets the stage for a potential breakout above resistance at approximately $2.70. This is worth watching for a technical trigger.

Global Tension via U.S.–China Diplomacy & Rare-Earth Bans Spooks Crypto

Crypto markets are bracing for a pivotal week ahead of the Donald Trump–Xi Jinping meeting and possible Chinese rare-earth export bans. Traders assign approximately a 92% chance of a tariff deal, but only approximately a 36% chance of China easing rare-earth restrictions.

Geo-political risk remains front-and-center for crypto. When geopolitics and real-economy constraints, such as rare-earths, enter the frame, crypto does not act as an island; it moves with global risk assets. This event horizon might trigger outsized moves.