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Citigroup Weighs Stablecoin and Crypto ETF Custody—$2.57T Giant Eyes Payments Push

Citigroup is exploring a major expansion into the digital asset space, with plans that could put the $2.57 trillion banking giant at the center of stablecoin custody, crypto ETF infrastructure, and blockchain-based payments. Speaking to Reuters, Biswarup Chatterjee, Citi’s global head of partnerships and innovation for its services division, said the bank is looking at providing custody for the high-quality assets that back stablecoins. Citi’s Stablecoin Plans Could Reshape Digital Asset Payments and Settlement Under the GENIUS Act signed into law this year, issuers must hold safe assets like U.S. Treasuries or cash to support their tokens, creating an opening for traditional custody banks to step in. “Providing custody services for those high-quality assets backing stablecoins is the first option we are looking at,” Chatterjee said. Citi’s services arm, which includes treasury, cash management, and payments for major corporations, has been a core part of the bank even as it undergoes a sweeping restructuring. The interest comes as the stablecoin market grows beyond crypto trading into mainstream payments and settlements. McKinsey estimates about $250 billion in stablecoins have been issued, but usage is still largely concentrated within the crypto sector. Citi sees the recent legislation as a turning point. 🏦 Citigroup @Citi is weighing its own stablecoin and diving into tokenized deposits, CEO Jane Fraser said during the Q2 earnings call, signaling a deeper digital pivot. #Citi #Stablecoins https://t.co/95SaJd4U7k — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) July 16, 2025 Citi is also considering issuing its own stablecoin, an idea CEO Jane Fraser confirmed in July during the bank’s second-quarter earnings call. “We are looking at the issuance of a Citi stablecoin, but probably most importantly is the tokenized deposit space, where we’re very active,” Fraser told analysts at the time. She said the goal was to modernize infrastructure and deliver “the benefits of advancements in stablecoin and digital assets to our clients in a safe and sound manner.” Citi’s ambitions extend beyond stablecoins. The bank is examining custody services for the crypto assets underpinning exchange-traded funds. Since the SEC approved spot bitcoin ETFs last year, the largest, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, has amassed a market cap of around $90 billion. “There needs to be custody of the equivalent amount of digital currency to support these ETFs,” Chatterjee noted. Coinbase currently dominates the ETF custody space, serving more than 80% of issuers. On the payments front, Citi already offers “tokenized” U.S. dollar transfers via blockchain between accounts in New York, London, and Hong Kong, operating 24 hours a day. The bank is now developing services to let clients send stablecoins between accounts or instantly convert them into dollars for payments. Chatterjee said discussions with clients are underway to identify use cases. Regulators, once cautious about traditional banks entering the crypto sector, have adopted a more accommodating stance under the current U.S. administration. Still, Citi will need to comply with anti-money laundering rules and international currency controls. Custody operations, Chatterjee stressed, must ensure assets were used for legitimate purposes before acquisition and must be backed by robust cyber and operational security. Fraser has framed Citi’s approach as a response to client needs and the broader shift toward always-on, instant settlement. “Digital assets are the next evolution in the broader digitization of payments, financing, and liquidity,” she said. “Ultimately, what we care about is what our clients want and how do we meet that need.” With $2.57 trillion in assets under custody, Citi’s entry into stablecoins and ETF crypto custody could reshape how traditional finance integrates with the digital asset economy. U.S. Banking Groups Urge Congress to Ban Stablecoin Yield Payments by Affiliates Major U.S. banking trade associations are urging Congress to bar stablecoin issuers’ affiliates from paying interest to token holders, warning it could drain deposits from banks and limit lending. 🇺🇸 U.S. bank groups seek to expand GENIUS Act limits on stablecoin interest, raising broader questions over global payments policy. #stablecoin #geniusact https://t.co/dhN9j0X3QZ — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) August 13, 2025 In a joint letter, the American Bankers Association, Bank Policy Institute, Consumer Bankers Association, Financial Services Forum, and Independent Community Bankers of America said the GENIUS Act’s current language prohibits issuers from offering yield but leaves a gap that allows exchanges and related entities to do so. They cited Treasury estimates that interest-bearing stablecoins could trigger up to $6.6 trillion in deposit outflows, increasing funding pressure on banks and money market funds. The groups stressed that bank deposits remain a key source for loans, while stablecoins are not designed for lending and lack equivalent oversight. They warned that joint marketing between issuers and exchanges could accelerate withdrawals in times of stress, raising borrowing costs for households and businesses. They called for extending the prohibition to all intermediaries handling stablecoin transactions. The push comes amid rapid sector growth. CertiK reports stablecoin supply rose from $204 billion to $252 billion in early 2025, with USDT dominating and USDC expanding to $61 billion. PayPal’s PYUSD doubled via a Solana integration and launched a 3.7% yield program. Coinbase and PayPal maintain their reward programs, arguing the ban applies only to issuers. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse predicts the market could grow to $2 trillion , driven by institutional adoption and regulation.

Author: CryptoNews

2025/08/15

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ETH ETFs Just Hit a $1 Billion Net Inflow Day – Could That Spur Altcoin Rotation This Weekend?

ETH inflows reached a record on Monday, with U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs drawing $1 billion in a single session. BlackRock’s ETHA fund accounted for $640 million, and Fidelity’s FETH added $277 million. Overall ETF holdings now total $25.7 billion, and cumulative inflows this cycle exceed $10.8 billion. What ETH Flows Mean Now Large ETH inflows suggest heightened demand for ETH exposure. Historically, these inflows have provided momentum for sectors like DeFi, layer-2 networks, and infrastructure tokens. That trend may extend into a broader altcoin rotation, but timing could vary based on weekend trading volumes and macro sentiment. $ETH ETF inflow + $729,100,000 yesterday. Ethereum FOMO is just getting started. pic.twitter.com/eEQDECt0oW — Ted (@TedPillows) August 14, 2025 Sustained inflows also create a liquidity effect—capital allocated to ETFs often gets mirrored in derivative markets, staking platforms, and liquidity pools. This can influence funding rates and lending demand on ETH-related platforms, impacting trader positioning across connected assets. Early Signs of Spillover Activity Ethereum’s recent performance far outstripped Bitcoin’s. In July, ETH rose roughly 49% compared to Bitcoin’s 8% gain. The total crypto market cap passed $3.7 trillion, buoyed by ETF-driven activity. DEX trading data supports this momentum. Ethereum-based DEX volume hit $24.5 billion over 48 hours, twice Solana’s trading volume during the same window. That indicates capital circulation through Ethereum-native infrastructure. On-chain analytics also show wallet growth in ETH DeFi protocols, with daily active addresses in some L2 ecosystems climbing to multi-month highs. This participation uptick suggests that a portion of the ETF-fueled demand is filtering directly into the broader Ethereum ecosystem rather than staying confined to passive ETF holdings. Weekend Outlook: Where Altcoin Season Could Go If ETH inflows continue, we could see capital migrate into a potential altcoin season : 1. Layer-2 networks, such as Arbi trum and Optimism, as users seek lower-cost, high-speed access to ETH trading and DeFi activity; 2. DeFi protocols like Unisw ap or Aave, especially if staking and liquidity incentives draw in flows from yield-seeking investors; 3. AI-adjacent tokens, such as Render (RNDR) or Fetch.ai (FET), which often attract speculative attention tied to broader sentiment shifts. Key indicators will include shifts in open interest, funding rates, and token pair activity—especially during thinner weekend books. Rotation Based on Value, Not Hype Current sentiment suggests altseason may remain narrow. Funds appear to be flowing into tokens with proven use or structural upgrades. Arbitrage, governance features, and liquidity access will determine if rotation spreads beyond Ethereum. Potential spillover will likely follow tangible developments, rather than headline-driven speculation. If trader and investor interest continues to reflect ETH ETF flows, we may see growing volume in high-utility altcoins during the coming days and into the weekend. For now, ETH inflows remain the clearest driver of momentum. Their influence may spread, but is likely to do so in measured steps tied to adoption, usage, and structural changes across the ecosystem.

Author: CryptoNews

2025/08/15

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Maple launches first perpetual trading use case for syrupUSDC on Drift Protocol

Maple Finance, the largest on-chain asset manager by assets under management, has introduced syrupUSDC as collateral for perpetual futures trading on Drift Protocol. According to a press release shared with crypto.news on Aug. 13, the integration enables traders on the…

Author: Crypto.news

2025/08/14

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MetaMask, Linea and Brevis team up to launch ZK-proof rewards for Metamask card users

MetaMask has teamed up with Ethereum layer-2 network Linea and zero-knowledge infrastructure provider Brevis to roll out a verifiable rewards program for MetaMask cardholders. According to an Aug. 13 announcement by Brevis, the initiative offers eligible MetaMask Card users a…

Author: Crypto.news

2025/08/14

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GENIUS Act Bombshell? Banking Groups Demand Stablecoin Interest Loophole Close Before Cash Flees

Key Takeaways: U.S. banking associations want Congress to close an interest-payment loophole in the GENIUS Act for stablecoin affiliates. The debate could expand into a broader discussion on the role of U.S. stablecoins in international payment systems. Future political shifts may influence whether current restrictions are tightened, relaxed, or adapted to global regulatory norms. Major U.S. banking trade groups are calling for Congress to block stablecoin issuers and affiliated firms from paying interest to token holders, warning that the practice could drain deposits from banks and reduce lending to households and businesses. In digital asset market structure legislation, it is important that the requirements in the GENIUS Act prohibiting the payment of interest and yield on stablecoins are not evaded. The latest from BPI, @ABABankers , @ConsumerBankers , @FSForum and @ICBA : https://t.co/YOta4d4UDA — Bank Policy Institute (@bankpolicy) August 12, 2025 In a joint statement published recently, organizations including the American Bankers Association, Bank Policy Institute, Consumer Bankers Association, Financial Services Forum, and Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) said current provisions under the GENIUS Act leave a gap that allows exchanges and related entities to offer yield on payment stablecoins, despite a statutory ban on issuers doing so. GENIUS Act Under the Magnifying Glass The groups argued that without an explicit prohibition covering distribution partners, the intent of the law will be undermined. They pointed to Treasury Department estimates that stablecoins capable of offering interest could result in up to $6.6 trillion in deposit outflows, intensifying funding pressures for banks and money market funds. The statement emphasized that bank deposits remain a key source of loan funding, while money market funds operate under securities regulations that permit them to offer yield. Payment stablecoins, the groups noted, are not structured to fund loans and do not face the same supervisory oversight. “Incentivizing a shift from bank deposits and money market funds to stablecoins would end up increasing lending costs and reducing loans to businesses and consumer households,” the statement said. Under the GENIUS Act, payment stablecoin issuers are prohibited from offering interest, yield, or other financial rewards. The banking associations said exchanges and affiliates acting as distribution channels can still provide such incentives under current language, creating a pathway for indirect interest payments that sidestep the restriction. Stablecoins, the Trump Administration, and Political Shifts They warned that joint marketing arrangements between issuers and exchanges could accelerate deposit outflows during periods of financial stress, reducing credit supply and raising borrowing costs for Main Street borrowers. The letter urged lawmakers to extend the prohibition to all entities facilitating stablecoin transactions, including affiliated platforms and intermediaries, to preserve the stability of traditional funding sources. Looking ahead, the debate over the GENIUS Act could intersect with political shifts, especially if a Trump administration revisits federal priorities on digital asset oversight. Any future policy recalibration could influence how aggressively agencies enforce or revise restrictions on stablecoin activity, including interest-related provisions. Industry participants are also watching whether international developments will affect U.S. positions. If other major jurisdictions permit yield-bearing stablecoins under regulated frameworks, pressure could mount on Congress and regulators to balance domestic credit stability concerns with the competitive positioning of U.S.-issued stablecoins in cross-border markets. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How might closing the stablecoin interest loophole affect global payments? Tighter rules could limit the appeal of U.S.-issued stablecoins abroad, especially in markets where regulated yield-bearing tokens are permitted. What role do payment stablecoins play in cross-border trade? They can facilitate near-instant settlement in multiple currencies, offering an alternative to traditional correspondent banking systems in international commerce. What other industries could be impacted by changes to stablecoin regulation? E-commerce platforms, remittance providers, and decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols could all be affected depending on how payment token rules evolve.

Author: CryptoNews

2025/08/14

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Centrifuge COO Jürgen Blumberg: “DeFi Is Having Its ETF Moment”

After more than two decades scaling exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and capital markets businesses at Goldman Sachs, Invesco, and BlackRock, Jürgen Blumberg has joined Centrifuge as chief operating officer. Centrifuge is a DeFi platform for tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs) and using them as collateral in decentralized lending. Blumberg believes the decentralized finance sector is now experiencing a turning point—one that mirrors the transformative rise of ETFs in traditional finance. From ETFs to DeFi Disruption Asked why he chose this moment to leave traditional finance for DeFi, Blumberg frames it in the context of what he calls the industry’s “ETF moment.” He sees clear parallels between the early skepticism around ETFs and the current perceptions of DeFi, noting that both began as disruptive innovations challenging entrenched systems. “I was always fascinated by the markets—how order books work, how instruments exchange on different venues,” Blumberg says. “The first five years of my career were in trading, and then I moved into my first ETF role. Even back then, I was convinced ETFs would replace mutual funds. It took 15 years, but now ETFs as a category are bigger than mutual funds.” He sees parallels between ETFs’ early days and the current DeFi sector : “ETFs were a new technology in traditional finance. Today, DeFi is a completely new ecosystem aiming to disrupt, offering solutions to the cost, time, and access limitations of traditional products. In DeFi, everybody can access markets—24/7.” Clearing Misconceptions About DeFi Blumberg explains that many in traditional finance view DeFi as volatile or risky, but that perception overlooks its structural advantages. “Those who take the time to understand DeFi will see it’s similar to traditional finance—just with different terminology. TVL is the same as AUM, liquidity pools are like exchanges, and derivatives exist on both sides. It’s a fascinating world with the power to disrupt how things are done today.” Tokenization: Not All Tokens Are Equal Recalling an old ETF industry saying—“not every ETF is created equal”—Blumberg applies it to tokenization. The phrase means that while all ETFs fall under the same general category, their structure, risk profile, and quality can vary. “There are tokens that are derivative structures and not fully backed by the underlying asset. Then there are fund tokens, like ours, that are fully backed, giving holders direct access to the assets. Just because something is called a token doesn’t mean it carries the same structure or risk.” Global Regulatory Competition and Centrifuge’s Growth Blumberg also sees regulatory momentum happening worldwide. “At the moment, progress is coming from the U.S. But Europe is moving forward too—Luxembourg is making progress, the EU has MiCA , and many ETP issuers choose Switzerland as their domicile. In Asia, Hong Kong and Singapore are advancing in certain areas. There’s a global competition to attract the smartest ideas and allow controlled innovation.” Centrifuge, he adds, is on the cusp of major progress. “We’re approaching the $1 billion TVL mark. With partnerships such as S&P and others we’ll soon announce, we’re well positioned to keep growing.” ONE. BILLION. DOLLARS. TVL.🔥 The flywheel is spinning. We've been heads down building since 2017, and now our onchain ecosystem has hit its first billion. The first billy was the hardest. The next ones are inevitable. 🚀 Onwards and upwards!!! pic.twitter.com/Ip4pq0qDzY — Centrifuge (@centrifuge) August 12, 2025 For Blumberg, the decisive reason to leave the security of large financial institutions was his conviction that the most meaningful innovation in the next decade will come from startups, not incumbents.

Author: CryptoNews

2025/08/14

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Centrifuge COO Jürgen Blumberg: “DeFi Is Having Its ETF Moment”

After more than two decades scaling exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and capital markets businesses at Goldman Sachs, Invesco, and BlackRock, Jürgen Blumberg has joined Centrifuge as chief operating officer. Centrifuge is a DeFi platform for tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs) and using them as collateral in decentralized lending. Blumberg believes the decentralized finance sector is now experiencing a turning point—one that mirrors the transformative rise of ETFs in traditional finance. From ETFs to DeFi Disruption Asked why he chose this moment to leave traditional finance for DeFi, Blumberg frames it in the context of what he calls the industry’s “ETF moment.” He sees clear parallels between the early skepticism around ETFs and the current perceptions of DeFi, noting that both began as disruptive innovations challenging entrenched systems. “I was always fascinated by the markets—how order books work, how instruments exchange on different venues,” Blumberg says. “The first five years of my career were in trading, and then I moved into my first ETF role. Even back then, I was convinced ETFs would replace mutual funds. It took 15 years, but now ETFs as a category are bigger than mutual funds.” He sees parallels between ETFs’ early days and the current DeFi sector : “ETFs were a new technology in traditional finance. Today, DeFi is a completely new ecosystem aiming to disrupt, offering solutions to the cost, time, and access limitations of traditional products. In DeFi, everybody can access markets—24/7.” Clearing Misconceptions About DeFi Blumberg explains that many in traditional finance view DeFi as volatile or risky, but that perception overlooks its structural advantages. “Those who take the time to understand DeFi will see it’s similar to traditional finance—just with different terminology. TVL is the same as AUM, liquidity pools are like exchanges, and derivatives exist on both sides. It’s a fascinating world with the power to disrupt how things are done today.” Tokenization: Not All Tokens Are Equal Recalling an old ETF industry saying—“not every ETF is created equal”—Blumberg applies it to tokenization. The phrase means that while all ETFs fall under the same general category, their structure, risk profile, and quality can vary. “There are tokens that are derivative structures and not fully backed by the underlying asset. Then there are fund tokens, like ours, that are fully backed, giving holders direct access to the assets. Just because something is called a token doesn’t mean it carries the same structure or risk.” Global Regulatory Competition and Centrifuge’s Growth Blumberg also sees regulatory momentum happening worldwide. “At the moment, progress is coming from the U.S. But Europe is moving forward too—Luxembourg is making progress, the EU has MiCA , and many ETP issuers choose Switzerland as their domicile. In Asia, Hong Kong and Singapore are advancing in certain areas. There’s a global competition to attract the smartest ideas and allow controlled innovation.” Centrifuge, he adds, is on the cusp of major progress. “We’re approaching the $1 billion TVL mark. With partnerships such as S&P and others we’ll soon announce, we’re well positioned to keep growing.” ONE. BILLION. DOLLARS. TVL.🔥 The flywheel is spinning. We've been heads down building since 2017, and now our onchain ecosystem has hit its first billion. The first billy was the hardest. The next ones are inevitable. 🚀 Onwards and upwards!!! pic.twitter.com/Ip4pq0qDzY — Centrifuge (@centrifuge) August 12, 2025 For Blumberg, the decisive reason to leave the security of large financial institutions was his conviction that the most meaningful innovation in the next decade will come from startups, not incumbents.

Author: CryptoNews

2025/08/14

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Revitalizing the Polkadot ecosystem starts with reducing inflation

TL;DR Polkadot's current annual inflation rate is approximately 8% , with a total supply of 1.6 billion tokens and only 20 million destroyed. High inflation leads to static capital, hindering

Author: PANews

2025/08/13

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Crypto X divided on Do Kwon’s guilty plea

Do Kwon’s fall from crypto wunderkind to fraudster has recently reached its final act. The Terraform Labs co-founder, once hailed as a visionary, has pleaded guilty to charges tied to the $40 billion collapse of TerraUSD and Luna. As one…

Author: Crypto.news

2025/08/13

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The best Bitcoin treasury companies will evolve into outliers | Opinion

Public Bitcoin-holding companies now have the opportunity to become both the benefactors and beneficiaries of a new wave of Bitcoin-enabled product innovation.

Author: Crypto.news

2025/08/13

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Lending

Citigroup Weighs Stablecoin and Crypto ETF Custody—$2.57T Giant Eyes Payments Push

ETH ETFs Just Hit a $1 Billion Net Inflow Day – Could That Spur Altcoin Rotation This Weekend?

Maple launches first perpetual trading use case for syrupUSDC on Drift Protocol

MetaMask, Linea and Brevis team up to launch ZK-proof rewards for Metamask card users

GENIUS Act Bombshell? Banking Groups Demand Stablecoin Interest Loophole Close Before Cash Flees

Centrifuge COO Jürgen Blumberg: “DeFi Is Having Its ETF Moment”

Centrifuge COO Jürgen Blumberg: “DeFi Is Having Its ETF Moment”

Revitalizing the Polkadot ecosystem starts with reducing inflation

Crypto X divided on Do Kwon’s guilty plea

The best Bitcoin treasury companies will evolve into outliers | Opinion

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