Ripple says its latest 2026 survey indicates that digital assets are becoming a core part of financial services strategies, as institutions increasingly integrate them into their operations.
Summary
A new Ripple survey shows 72% of finance leaders believe offering digital asset solutions is essential to remain competitive.
Stablecoins emerged as the leading use case, driven by demand for improved treasury management and working capital efficiency.
Security, custody, and trusted infrastructure providers remain top priorities for institutions adopting digital assets.
The survey, which gathered responses from over 1,000 executives across banks, asset managers, fintech firms, and corporates, found that a strong majority—72%—believe companies must adopt digital asset capabilities to stay relevant in the evolving financial landscape.
Stablecoins stood out as the most prominent use case. Around 74% of respondents said these assets can enhance cash flow efficiency and unlock idle capital, signaling a shift in perception—from being primarily payment tools to becoming key instruments for treasury and liquidity management.
Ripple also linked this growing demand to broader market expansion, noting that the stablecoin market capitalization surpassed $300 billion in early March, fueled by increasing adoption across payments, trading, and business settlements.
Tokenization drives infrastructure focus
The findings further highlight rising interest in tokenization, particularly among banks and asset managers. About 89% of respondents in these segments identified custody and secure storage as critical priorities when selecting tokenization partners.
Banks emphasized token lifecycle management (82%), while asset managers placed greater importance on primary distribution (80%).
According to Ripple, these trends suggest that institutions are shifting their focus toward the infrastructure required to support digital assets at scale. The company noted that financial leaders are seeking partners capable of meeting both current operational needs and future expansion plans.
Security remains a decisive factor in partner selection. Nearly 97% of respondents said certifications such as ISO and SOC 2 are important or very important. This was followed by post-integration technical support (88%), along with industry experience and financial stability.
The survey also revealed a growing preference for consolidated service providers. About 71% of corporates favor a single platform offering multiple digital asset services, while more than half of fintech firms and financial institutions share this preference.
Adoption accelerates globally
The results align with a broader industry shift, as firms move beyond experimentation toward real-world implementation of digital asset strategies.
“Most finance leaders are no longer questioning digital assets—they are focused on how to build with them and who to partner with,” Ripple said.
The company’s findings also coincide with its ongoing expansion efforts. Recently, Ripple announced plans to apply for a virtual asset service provider (VASP) license in Brazil, as it continues to grow its presence in payments and tokenization across Latin America.
