Citi is partnering with Coinbase to enable its major institutional clients to accept stablecoin payments, marking another step toward the integration of digital assets into traditional banking services.
The partnership will rely on Coinbase’s blockchain infrastructure to process stablecoin transactions, with automatic conversion of digital assets into fiat currency. Citi will then handle the final settlement, allowing companies to benefit from blockchain-based payment capabilities while maintaining a system close to traditional banking operations.
The initiative is designed in particular to facilitate digital and cross-border payments by providing businesses with a solution that can offer greater availability and potentially faster settlement for international transactions. Settlements will be able to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, addressing the needs of companies whose activities extend beyond the traditional operating hours of financial infrastructures.
For Citi, the initiative builds on its broader exploration of blockchain technology and digital assets. For Coinbase, it further strengthens the role of its infrastructure in serving institutional financial players. The two companies began their collaboration in 2025, and the new agreement expands the potential use of stablecoins for commercial payments.
Stablecoins, which are generally designed to maintain a stable value against a reference currency, are increasingly being explored for payments, transfers and international settlements. Their appeal lies in particular in their ability to operate through digital infrastructures that are available continuously.
Automatic conversion into fiat currency can also allow companies to avoid direct exposure to the volatility of many cryptoassets. The system therefore combines Coinbase’s blockchain infrastructure with Citi’s banking and settlement capabilities. This combination could facilitate the integration of digital payments into existing financial systems, particularly for large companies operating across multiple markets.
The partnership comes amid a broader transformation of global financial infrastructure, driven by the development of stablecoins, blockchain technology and instant payments. For financial institutions, the challenge is increasingly to integrate these technologies while meeting requirements related to compliance, security and risk management.
The Citi-Coinbase partnership illustrates the gradual convergence between traditional finance and digital assets. By enabling institutional clients to accept stablecoin payments while receiving settlement in fiat currency, the two companies are seeking to build a bridge between emerging blockchain networks and conventional banking systems.
The development could contribute to the broader adoption of stablecoins in commercial and cross-border transactions as companies seek payment solutions that operate continuously, integrate with existing systems and meet the needs of an increasingly digital global economy.
