Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) is considering introducing crypto custody services to its customers. A top executive of Citigroup informed Reuters that the bank is exploring ways to offer custody for stablecoins and spot crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
“Providing custody services for those high-quality assets backing stablecoins is the first option we are looking at,” Biswarup Chatterjee, global head of partnerships and innovation for Citigroup’s services division, said in an interview
Citigroup Adopts Crypto Amid Regulatory Shift
The top-tier U.S. bank, with over $1 trillion in assets under management (AUM), is considering crypto custody services due to a notable regulatory shift. Notably, the Donald Trump administration has already ended Operation Chokepoint 2.0, which barred traditional banks from offering crypto-related businesses banking services.
Additionally, President Trump recently signed into law the GENIUS Act, which oversees the creation of regulated stablecoins. The bank is considering offering custody for crypto ETFs possibly due to its huge backing from BlackRock, which has successfully launched Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs.
In mid-July, 2025, Citigroup’s CEO Jane Fraser said that the bank is exploring developing its stablecoin to facilitate seamless payments.
Market Impact
Citigroup stock has surged 35 percent year-to-date partially fueled by its crypto market exploration. Moreover, the use of blockchain to modernize global financial markets has accelerated in the past year fueled by clear regulatory clarity.
The crypto market is well-positioned to benefit from notable demand from Wall Street behemoths. Furthermore, the wider crypto market uses the Stablecoin sector as a major source of liquidity and link to the mainstream financial systems.
XRP’s price has declined significantly over the past week. The token currently trades at a seven-day low of $2.09, and key indicators suggest that the downtrend may continue in the near term.
Market data shows a steady rise in the demand for short positions. This trend reveals growing trader confidence in further downside movement, with short sellers increasing their exposure in anticipation of the XRP token’s continued weakness.
XRP Faces Prolonged Sell Pressure
XRP’s long/short ratio reflects the bearish bias dominating its futures market. At press time, the ratio stands at 0.98, indicating more traders are betting against the altcoin.
This ratio compares the number of long and short positions in a market. When an asset’s long/short ratio is above 1, there are more long than short positions, indicating that traders are predominantly betting on a price increase.
Conversely, as seen with XRP, a ratio below one indicates that most traders are positioning for a price drop. This reflects heightened bearish sentiment and growing expectations of continued downside movements.
According to Coinglass, XRP last recorded a long/short ratio above one on April 22. This means it has been over two weeks since bullish positions outnumbered bearish ones in the XRP futures market. The extended period of bearish dominance suggests that market participants have grown increasingly pessimistic about XRP’s short-term prospects.
On the daily chart, the newly formed “death cross” by XRP’s Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator supports this bearish outlook. Readings from the XRP/USD one-day chart have revealed that XRP’s MACD line (blue) closed below its signal line (orange) on Monday, forming a death cross.
This pattern is a notable marker of a sustained downtrend and is widely viewed by traders as a sign of weakening price strength. Hence, XRP risks plummeting further.
XRP Holds Key Support at $2.09 — But for How Long?
XRP currently trades at $2.10, resting above the support formed at $2.03. If selloffs strengthen, the support floor could weaken, making way for a price decline toward $1.61.
Ethereum may face downward pressure in August, as the institutional and whale support that fueled its rally to a July peak of $3,800 appears to be retreating.
With bearish sentiment silently mounting across the broader crypto market, the leading altcoin now faces a tougher climb back toward the $4,000 mark.
ETH Futures Sink to $6.2 Billion: Institutional Confidence Losing Steam?
On-chain and derivatives data show a recent trend of decline in activity among the market’s biggest players. For example, open interest in ETH futures contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) has fallen sharply, closing yesterday at a five-day low of $6.2 billion.
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This drop is notable, as CME’s ETH futures market is primarily used by institutional players seeking regulated exposure to the asset. Therefore, lower open interest signals these investors may be scaling back their ETH positions.
Without continued institutional engagement, the upward pressure on ETH’s price may weaken, increasing the likelihood of short-term corrections.
In addition, whale activity is also tapering off. A review of the coin’s on-chain activity reveals a 339% dip in its large holders’ netflow over the past seven days.
Large holders are whale addresses that hold more than 1% of an asset’s circulating supply. Their netflow tracks the difference between the coins they buy and the amount they sell over a specific period.
When an asset’s large holders’ netflow increases, more tokens or coins flow into major investors’ wallets than are flowing out. This trend indicates that these holders are accumulating the asset, signaling confidence in its future value.
Conversely, when it plunges, it marks a cooling in high-conviction accumulation, weakening short-term price support.
Ethereum Tanks 10% as Selling Pressure Surges—Is $3,314 Next?
At press time, ETH trades at $3,620, down nearly 10% over the past day. During that period, its trading volume rocketed by 17%, creating a negative divergence. This divergence emerges when rising trading activity coincides with falling prices, signaling intensified selling pressure.
If this continues, ETH’s price could fall to $3,524. A breach below this key support floor could lead to a deeper decline to $3,314.
The aforementioned emerging projects offer streamlined solutions with real utility—whether it’s Bitcoin-based meme trading, meme coin staking, or one-click token creation. As the market moves forward, these three stand out as some of the best cryptos to buy now for those chasing performance without Ethereum’s bloated structure and developer hurdles.
Vitalik Buterin warns Ethereum is too complex—could simpler alternatives take the spotlight?
Ethereum’s price and philosophy are facing a critical moment. The network’s co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, has expressed concerns about Ethereum’s increasing complexity. He declared that Ethereum has become “needlessly complicated” and needs to be simplified urgently.
This comes when ETH is trading near crucial support levels, with investors watching closely to see if it can reclaim the $1,880 mark. A successful push above this zone could ignite a much-needed rally.
However, as Ethereum fights to overcome both technical and structural issues, investor attention is starting to shift. The very complexity Buterin warns about is pushing users and builders alike to look for simpler, more streamlined networks that are easier to use, more transparent, and developer-friendly from day one.
While Ethereum’s long-term potential is real, Bitcoin Pepe, CarterFi, and PepeX offer simpler protocols with long-term returns.
Bitcoin Pepe is turning Bitcoin into a meme coin powerhouse
Bitcoin Pepe is an ETH alternative creating a meme coin system similar to Solana on top of Bitcoin’s unmatched security. This project is a Layer-2 revolution. With lightning-fast transactions and a smooth user experience, Bitcoin Pepe brings the performance of Solana directly to Bitcoin’s foundation, unlocking new utility that the market has never seen before.
The real breakthrough lies in Bitcoin Pepe’s creation of the PEP-20 token standard—a Bitcoin-native framework similar to Ethereum’s ERC-20. This innovation allows for the seamless launch of new tokens directly on Bitcoin’s Layer 2 network.
For investors, this opens up access to meme coin trading without needing to bridge assets or leave the safety of the Bitcoin ecosystem. Bitcoin Pepe presents the opportunity to convert more than $2 trillion in unused Bitcoin capital into high-growth assets for the first time.
So far, the presale has already brought in over $7.7m from early buyers, with the token currently available at just $0.031. As the meme coin trend picks up steam again in 2025, Bitcoin Pepe stands out as the best crypto to buy now, both for its branding and for building the rails that could power the next cycle.
CartelFi brings passive yield to the meme coin bull cycle
Historically, meme coins have delivered some of the most significant returns when fresh capital floods into crypto. But this time, a major innovation is changing how meme coin investors prepare—and profit. CartelFi is turning unproductive meme holdings into high-yielding assets through its groundbreaking staking pools.
Instead of waiting for meme coins to pump, CartelFi users can now earn steady returns on their bags. These staking pools offer a range of options, from single-asset meme coin staking to stablecoin and large-cap token pair staking.
What makes CartelFi’s model truly revolutionary is its reward system. Investors who lock up the native CARTFI token get boosted APY, with returns as high as 1,000%, depending on the duration and the amount staked.
Currently, CARTFI is priced at just $0.045 and has raised $1.7m to date. With 30 presale stages and a 5% price increase at each stage, the potential upside for early investors is massive.
PepeX revolutionizes meme Coin launches with AI-driven fair launches
PepeX is garnering attention in the meme coin community due to its innovative branding and cutting-edge technology. As the first AI-backed token launchpad, PepeX gives anyone the tools to create and fund a crypto project in minutes. Its AKIRA AI engine handles everything from deployment to growth, breaking the usual barriers that favor venture capitalists and gatekeepers.
What sets PepeX apart is its radical fairness. The “5/95” model limits founders to just 5% of the total supply, ensuring that 95% goes directly to the community. This approach eliminates the threat of large insider dumps and puts power in the hands of everyday investors. Combined with anti-sniping tools and transparent on-chain systems, PepeX is redefining what fair launches should look like.
The project has raised over $2.1m in its public presale in just weeks. PEPX is currently priced at $0.0255, with prices set to rise in future stages. With this momentum, PepeX is becoming the infrastructure behind the next generation of crypto.
Time to switch from ETH to simpler alternatives?
The crypto market is shifting gears fast. Ethereum once set the standard, but even its creator, Vitalik Buterin, now warns that the network has become needlessly complex. This opens the door for leaner, faster, and more user-focused alternatives. Bitcoin Pepe brings Solana-style speed to Bitcoin. CartelFi gives meme coins utility through high-yield staking. PepeX democratizes capital with AI-powered token launches. These three may lead to the next breakout for those hunting for the best crypto to buy now.
The post Best Crypto to Buy Now Offering Simple ETH Alternatives appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
The aforementioned emerging projects offer streamlined solutions with real utility—whether it’s Bitcoin-based meme trading, meme coin staking, or one-click token creation. As the market moves forward, these three stand out as some of the best cryptos to buy now for those chasing performance without Ethereum’s bloated structure and developer hurdles. Vitalik Buterin warns Ethereum is …
