Citi's Crypto Custody Gambit Puts Blockchain ETFs In The Spotlight
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Aug 15 2025
0mins
Should l Buy C?
Source: Benzinga
Citigroup's Potential Move into Crypto: Citigroup Inc is considering offering custody and payment services for stablecoins and protecting cryptocurrency ETFs, marking a significant entry of a traditional financial institution into the crypto custodial space dominated by digital-first companies like Coinbase.
Impact on ETF Market: Citi's involvement could enhance investor trust in blockchain-related ETFs and fintech innovations while potentially creating competition for Coinbase-tied ETFs, reshaping the landscape of crypto custody and increasing institutional legitimacy in the market.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy C?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on C
Wall Street analysts forecast C stock price to rise
18 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 107.380
Low
87.00
Averages
131.00
High
150.00
Current: 107.380
Low
87.00
Averages
131.00
High
150.00
About C
Citigroup Inc. is a global diversified financial services holding company. The Company’s segments include Services, Markets, Banking, Wealth and U.S. Personal Banking (USPB). The Services segment includes Treasury and Trade Solutions (TTS) and securities services. TTS provides an integrated suite of tailored cash management, trade and working capital solutions to multinational corporations, financial institutions and public sector organizations. The Markets segment provides corporate, institutional and public sector clients around the world with a full range of sales and trading services across equities, foreign exchange, rates, spread products and commodities. The Banking segment includes investment banking, which supports client capital-raising needs to help strengthen and grow their businesses. The Wealth segment includes Private Bank, Wealth at Work and Citigold and provides financial services to a range of client segments. USPB segment includes branded cards and retail services.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
AI Stock Pullback Presents Investment Opportunities
- Market Pullback: The S&P 500 has pulled back 7% year-to-date, with AI stocks like Microsoft and Palantir down 26% and nearly 20%, respectively, indicating a market reassessment of these high-valuation stocks that may dampen investor confidence in the short term.
- Investor Sentiment Shift: Despite the AI sector facing a reality check similar to the dot-com bubble of 2000, the strong demand for AI solutions suggests that this pullback could be short-lived, presenting a potential entry point for investors.
- Optimistic Earnings Projections: Analysts expect Nvidia to report earnings of $8.27 per share for the current fiscal year, a 74% increase year-over-year, while Microsoft's revenue growth is projected to exceed 16%, indicating that despite high valuations, future profit potential remains robust.
- Market Repricing Process: Many analysts believe the current price adjustments are more of a
See More
Market Dynamics of Artificial Intelligence Stocks
- Market Pullback Analysis: The S&P 500 has seen a 7% year-to-date decline as AI stocks are perceived as liabilities, with Microsoft down 26% from last year-end, indicating heightened investor concerns over high valuations that may lead to short-term market volatility.
- Optimistic Earnings Projections: Despite facing a price reset, analysts expect Nvidia to report earnings of $8.27 per share for the current fiscal year, a 74% increase year-over-year, suggesting that the market remains optimistic about the profitability of the AI sector, potentially attracting more investor interest.
- Improved Industry Fundamentals: Unlike the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s, current AI companies possess real cash flows and stronger fundamentals, allowing them to remain stable during adjustments and reducing investment risks.
- Emerging Investment Opportunities: Although enthusiasm for AI stocks has waned, the long-term outlook remains positive as the market gains a clearer understanding of these companies' profit potential, presenting savvy investors with opportunities to identify undervalued investments.
See More
Latest Wall Street Rating Updates
- UBS Upgrade: UBS upgrades Adecoagro from Neutral to Buy, raising the price target from $8 to $16.2, indicating the company is poised to benefit from the ongoing Middle East conflict, which is expected to enhance its financial performance.
- HSBC Bullish on Carnival: HSBC upgrades Carnival from Hold to Buy, asserting that the current share price undervalues the resilience of experience-led demand, which is likely to improve the company's market performance in the near future.
- Morgan Stanley Reiterates Meta: Morgan Stanley lowers its price target for Meta from $825 to $775 but maintains it as a top investment idea, suggesting that market sentiment has bottomed out, making it an opportune time to buy.
- Deutsche Bank Upgrades Colgate: Deutsche Bank upgrades Colgate-Palmolive from Hold to Buy, highlighting the company's core business as having long-term investment value and the ability to weather current market volatility effectively.
See More
Investment Opportunities Amid Nasdaq Correction
- Memory Chip Industry Growth: Micron Technology holds a significant position in the memory chip industry, and despite its stock being 23% below its high, the company reported nearly tripled revenue last quarter due to strong demand from data centers, highlighting its critical role in AI infrastructure development.
- Optimistic Earnings Forecast: Analysts expect Micron's adjusted earnings to grow 13% annually through fiscal 2029, making the current valuation of 16 times adjusted earnings reasonable, with a median target price of $550 per share implying a 56% upside from the current price of $352.
- Ad Tech Innovation: AppLovin's stock is 48% below its high, yet its newly launched self-service platform provides robust advertising technology support for e-commerce, with the CEO stating it serves as the foundation for the next decade of growth, showcasing the company's leading position in AI innovation.
- Undervalued Market Position: Despite facing short-term challenges, AppLovin's earnings are projected to increase by 44% annually through 2027, with the current valuation of 38 times earnings considered cheap; the median target price among 32 analysts is $650 per share, indicating a 71% upside from its current price of $380.
See More
Nasdaq Faces Correction Amid Rising Oil Prices
- Nasdaq Correction: The Nasdaq Composite index has corrected over 10% due to soaring oil prices, entering correction territory; however, historical data shows that the index has averaged a 22% return in the 12 months following such corrections, presenting a buying opportunity for investors.
- Micron Technology Outlook: Cantor Fitzgerald has set a target price of $700 per share for Micron Technology, implying a 98% upside from its current price of $352, with the company benefiting significantly from strong growth in the data center segment amid a memory chip supply shortage.
- AppLovin Growth Potential: Citigroup has set a target price of $820 per share for AppLovin, indicating a 115% upside from its current price of $380; despite concerns about AI disrupting traditional advertising models, the company is at the forefront of ad tech innovation.
- Industry Cyclicality Risks: Although Micron's stock is currently 23% below its historical high, analysts generally believe it is undervalued, with expectations of a 13% annual growth in adjusted earnings through fiscal 2029, making the current valuation of 16 times adjusted earnings appear reasonable.
See More
India's Economic Growth Faces Downside Risks Amid Middle East Conflict
- Growth Forecast Downgrade: India's growth forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2027 has been adjusted down to 7.0%-7.4% due to rising energy costs and supply chain disruptions linked to the Iran war, which is expected to significantly increase the trade deficit and impact the current account deficit, potentially hindering economic recovery.
- Rising Energy Costs: India relies on the Strait of Hormuz for about 50% of its crude oil, with prices surging from $80 to $140, leading to increased domestic fuel prices; while the government has cut taxes to alleviate consumer burdens, tax revenues are likely to be adversely affected.
- Private Sector Activity Slowdown: The HSBC flash Purchasing Managers' Index indicates that private sector activity in India fell to its lowest level since October 2022 in March, reflecting weak domestic demand and heightened inflationary pressures, with businesses expressing pessimism about future growth.
- Policy Response Measures: The Indian government has implemented measures to reduce central excise duties on petrol and diesel to prevent price hikes while raising export duties on diesel and aviation fuel to ensure domestic supply, demonstrating a cautious approach in addressing the energy crisis.
See More
AI Stock Pullback Presents Investment Opportunities
- Market Pullback: The S&P 500 has pulled back 7% year-to-date, with AI stocks like Microsoft and Palantir down 26% and nearly 20%, respectively, indicating a market reassessment of these high-valuation stocks that may dampen investor confidence in the short term.
- Investor Sentiment Shift: Despite the AI sector facing a reality check similar to the dot-com bubble of 2000, the strong demand for AI solutions suggests that this pullback could be short-lived, presenting a potential entry point for investors.
- Optimistic Earnings Projections: Analysts expect Nvidia to report earnings of $8.27 per share for the current fiscal year, a 74% increase year-over-year, while Microsoft's revenue growth is projected to exceed 16%, indicating that despite high valuations, future profit potential remains robust.
- Market Repricing Process: Many analysts believe the current price adjustments are more of a
See More
Market Dynamics of Artificial Intelligence Stocks
- Market Pullback Analysis: The S&P 500 has seen a 7% year-to-date decline as AI stocks are perceived as liabilities, with Microsoft down 26% from last year-end, indicating heightened investor concerns over high valuations that may lead to short-term market volatility.
- Optimistic Earnings Projections: Despite facing a price reset, analysts expect Nvidia to report earnings of $8.27 per share for the current fiscal year, a 74% increase year-over-year, suggesting that the market remains optimistic about the profitability of the AI sector, potentially attracting more investor interest.
- Improved Industry Fundamentals: Unlike the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s, current AI companies possess real cash flows and stronger fundamentals, allowing them to remain stable during adjustments and reducing investment risks.
- Emerging Investment Opportunities: Although enthusiasm for AI stocks has waned, the long-term outlook remains positive as the market gains a clearer understanding of these companies' profit potential, presenting savvy investors with opportunities to identify undervalued investments.
See More
Latest Wall Street Rating Updates
- UBS Upgrade: UBS upgrades Adecoagro from Neutral to Buy, raising the price target from $8 to $16.2, indicating the company is poised to benefit from the ongoing Middle East conflict, which is expected to enhance its financial performance.
- HSBC Bullish on Carnival: HSBC upgrades Carnival from Hold to Buy, asserting that the current share price undervalues the resilience of experience-led demand, which is likely to improve the company's market performance in the near future.
- Morgan Stanley Reiterates Meta: Morgan Stanley lowers its price target for Meta from $825 to $775 but maintains it as a top investment idea, suggesting that market sentiment has bottomed out, making it an opportune time to buy.
- Deutsche Bank Upgrades Colgate: Deutsche Bank upgrades Colgate-Palmolive from Hold to Buy, highlighting the company's core business as having long-term investment value and the ability to weather current market volatility effectively.
See More
Investment Opportunities Amid Nasdaq Correction
- Memory Chip Industry Growth: Micron Technology holds a significant position in the memory chip industry, and despite its stock being 23% below its high, the company reported nearly tripled revenue last quarter due to strong demand from data centers, highlighting its critical role in AI infrastructure development.
- Optimistic Earnings Forecast: Analysts expect Micron's adjusted earnings to grow 13% annually through fiscal 2029, making the current valuation of 16 times adjusted earnings reasonable, with a median target price of $550 per share implying a 56% upside from the current price of $352.
- Ad Tech Innovation: AppLovin's stock is 48% below its high, yet its newly launched self-service platform provides robust advertising technology support for e-commerce, with the CEO stating it serves as the foundation for the next decade of growth, showcasing the company's leading position in AI innovation.
- Undervalued Market Position: Despite facing short-term challenges, AppLovin's earnings are projected to increase by 44% annually through 2027, with the current valuation of 38 times earnings considered cheap; the median target price among 32 analysts is $650 per share, indicating a 71% upside from its current price of $380.
See More
Nasdaq Faces Correction Amid Rising Oil Prices
- Nasdaq Correction: The Nasdaq Composite index has corrected over 10% due to soaring oil prices, entering correction territory; however, historical data shows that the index has averaged a 22% return in the 12 months following such corrections, presenting a buying opportunity for investors.
- Micron Technology Outlook: Cantor Fitzgerald has set a target price of $700 per share for Micron Technology, implying a 98% upside from its current price of $352, with the company benefiting significantly from strong growth in the data center segment amid a memory chip supply shortage.
- AppLovin Growth Potential: Citigroup has set a target price of $820 per share for AppLovin, indicating a 115% upside from its current price of $380; despite concerns about AI disrupting traditional advertising models, the company is at the forefront of ad tech innovation.
- Industry Cyclicality Risks: Although Micron's stock is currently 23% below its historical high, analysts generally believe it is undervalued, with expectations of a 13% annual growth in adjusted earnings through fiscal 2029, making the current valuation of 16 times adjusted earnings appear reasonable.
See More
India's Economic Growth Faces Downside Risks Amid Middle East Conflict
- Growth Forecast Downgrade: India's growth forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2027 has been adjusted down to 7.0%-7.4% due to rising energy costs and supply chain disruptions linked to the Iran war, which is expected to significantly increase the trade deficit and impact the current account deficit, potentially hindering economic recovery.
- Rising Energy Costs: India relies on the Strait of Hormuz for about 50% of its crude oil, with prices surging from $80 to $140, leading to increased domestic fuel prices; while the government has cut taxes to alleviate consumer burdens, tax revenues are likely to be adversely affected.
- Private Sector Activity Slowdown: The HSBC flash Purchasing Managers' Index indicates that private sector activity in India fell to its lowest level since October 2022 in March, reflecting weak domestic demand and heightened inflationary pressures, with businesses expressing pessimism about future growth.
- Policy Response Measures: The Indian government has implemented measures to reduce central excise duties on petrol and diesel to prevent price hikes while raising export duties on diesel and aviation fuel to ensure domestic supply, demonstrating a cautious approach in addressing the energy crisis.
See More
