Ripple Survey Shows Banks and Fintechs Embrace Digital Assets

Digital Assets Move From Experimentation to Core Finance Tools

The landscape of finance is shifting, with digital assets increasingly recognized as vital components rather than experimental sidelines. Ripple’s 2026 survey highlights this transformation by polling more than 1,000 finance leaders worldwide. A noteworthy 70% affirm that offering digital asset solutions is essential to remain competitive in today’s financial services market.

Fintech companies are pioneering this movement, being more likely to integrate digital assets like stablecoins into treasury operations and payment frameworks than traditional banks or corporate treasuries.

Stablecoins Lead Corporate Treasury Adoption

Stablecoins, digital tokens pegged to fiat currencies such as the US dollar, have emerged as the preferred digital asset use case among finance leaders. The survey found that 74% believe stablecoins can directly enhance cash-flow efficiency and unlock working capital, which are critical functions in corporate treasury management.

This adoption reflects the growing perception of stablecoins not only as payment facilitators but as tools strategically integrated to optimize operational liquidity.

Key Statistics on Stablecoin Adoption

74% believe stablecoins improve cash-flow efficiency

31% of fintechs use stablecoins for customer payments

29% of fintechs accept stablecoins directly

Omkar Godbole, lead analyst at Ripple, noted: "Stablecoins are no longer niche tokens; they're rapidly becoming indispensable in the practical workflows of corporate finance."

Fintechs Drive Innovation, Banks Focus on Infrastructure

While fintechs lead in frontline digital asset usage, banks and asset managers are emphasizing foundational infrastructure elements such as tokenization, secure custody solutions, and certified operational frameworks.

About 47% of fintech respondents are developing proprietary digital asset solutions rather than relying solely on third-party providers. Meanwhile, 89% of banks and asset managers prioritize safe storage and custody, focusing on compliance and security certifications like ISO and SOC 2.

Banks' and Asset Managers' Focus Areas:

• 82% of banks prioritize token management capabilities
• 80% of asset managers emphasize enhanced distribution mechanisms

Susan Lee, Head of Digital Assets at FinGuard Bank, stated: "Secure custody with industry certifications is paramount; it underpins trust and regulatory compliance, which banks cannot compromise."

Security and Certification Top of Mind

Security concerns dominate the industry's priorities. Nearly all respondents (97%) identified certifications such as ISO and SOC 2 as critical criteria in selecting digital asset infrastructure providers. Operational support and niche expertise are also influential in decision making.

This focus underscores that while digital assets are becoming strategic necessities, the infrastructure supporting their use must meet rigorous reliability and security standards to gain institutional trust.

The Competitive Edge: Infrastructure Decisions Today Shape Tomorrow’s Market Leaders

Choosing the right partners for custody, tokenization, and digital asset management is viewed as a decisive factor for competitive advantage going forward. As more banks and corporates enter this space, those with robust, secure infrastructure and seamless execution capabilities will differentiate themselves.

Samuel Carver, a fintech strategist, commented: "Firms investing now in certified secure custody and innovative tokenization will set the pace in the evolving digital finance ecosystem."

Final Takeaway

Ripple’s 2026 survey paints a clear picture: digital assets have moved from niche experiments to core strategic tools across banks, fintechs, and corporates worldwide. Stablecoins, in particular, are reshaping treasury management by enhancing liquidity and unlocking capital efficiency. The race is now on for firms to build or acquire secure, certified infrastructure to support tokenization and custody — decisions that industry leaders expect will define competitive advantage for years to come.