What to know
- Finance leaders accelerate digital asset adoption as competition intensifies globally
- Ripple survey reveals stablecoins driving efficiency and treasury transformation efforts
- Institutions prioritize security, custody, and partnerships in digital asset expansion
Financial institutions are accelerating digital asset adoption as competition intensifies across the global financial sector. A new survey highlights how leaders now treat digital assets as essential infrastructure rather than optional innovation. This shift reflects changing expectations among banks, fintech firms, and asset managers.
According to Ripple’s early 2026 survey of more than 1,000 global finance leaders, 72% believe digital asset solutions are now critical to staying competitive. This growing consensus signals a turning point in how institutions approach financial technology. Moreover, firms are aligning strategies around stablecoins, tokenization, and integrated infrastructure.
Stablecoins Gain Traction as Treasury and Payment Tools
Stablecoins continue to lead adoption across use cases, with around 74% of respondents saying they improve cash flow efficiency and unlock working capital. Additionally, financial leaders increasingly use them for treasury management, indicating a move toward more practical applications within established financial systems.
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At the same time, fintech companies are driving much of the current momentum, as many already integrate digital assets into payment and treasury operations. Furthermore, 31% of fintechs use stablecoins to collect payments, while 29% accept them directly, positioning fintech firms ahead in operational deployment.
However, corporates are taking a more partnership-driven approach, with about 74% planning to work with external providers instead of building systems internally. Consequently, demand for reliable infrastructure partners continues to rise, reflecting a need for faster deployment and reduced operational complexity.
This preference also reflects increasing regulatory and operational pressures, as managing multiple systems internally can introduce risks and inefficiencies. Therefore, companies are prioritizing partners that offer ready-to-deploy solutions aligned with compliance requirements.
Institutions Prioritize Security, Custody, and Integrated Solutions
As adoption expands, institutions are placing strong emphasis on security and custody solutions, with 89% identifying digital asset storage as a top priority among those exploring tokenization.
Additionally, banks and asset managers are focusing on lifecycle management and distribution capabilities. Interest in advisory services is also increasing, as around 85% of banks value pre-issuance structuring support, while 76% of asset managers share similar priorities. This suggests institutions seek both technical infrastructure and strategic guidance.
Moreover, integrated service providers are becoming more attractive, with over half of fintechs and financial institutions preferring one-stop-shop solutions, while that figure rises to 71% among corporates. Security remains the leading factor in partner selection, as nearly all respondents prioritize certifications such as ISO and SOC II, while 88% highlight the importance of post-integration support.
Digital assets are becoming central to financial services strategies worldwide, as institutions prioritize secure infrastructure, trusted partnerships, and practical use cases. Consequently, early adoption decisions are expected to influence long-term competitiveness across the sector.
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