Digital assets are reshaping financial services faster than many anticipated. Ripple conducted a survey at the beginning of 2026 with over 1,000 financial leaders.
This study covered banks, asset management firms, fintech companies, and other organizations globally. The results show a strong consensus on stablecoins, tokenization, and infrastructure choices.
Approximately 72% of respondents believe that financial leaders must offer digital asset solutions to remain competitive. The survey reveals a market whose pace of development and clarity surpasses previous expectations.
The status of stablecoins as financial tools is on the rise, with fintech companies leading the way in adopting digital assets.
Among all use cases for digital assets, stablecoins garnered the most trust. As many as 74% of respondents indicated that stablecoins can enhance cash flow efficiency.
They also help businesses unlock trapped working capital. This suggests that stablecoins are not only in the payments space but are also entering the realm of financial management.
Fintech companies continue to lead in the practical application of digital assets across various industries. More fintech firms than other sectors report using digital assets in financial or payment operations.
About 31% of fintech companies use stablecoins to collect payments from customers, while another 29% accept stablecoins directly, indicating an increasing operational integration.
There is also a noticeable divergence between fintech companies and traditional firms regarding the choice between building and partnering. Approximately 47% of fintech companies prefer to develop their own digital asset infrastructure.
In contrast, only 14% of traditional firms opt for in-house development. A strong 74% of companies plan to collaborate with partners offering ready-made solutions.
Interest in tokenizing financial assets is also growing among banks and asset management firms. Most institutions are actively seeking experienced partners to implement tokenization strategies.
The results indicate that the market is transitioning from the experimental phase to structured deployment.
When evaluating digital asset partners, security and custody are the top considerations. Among respondents assessing tokenization partners, 89% indicated that digital asset storage and custody are primary concerns.
Token services and lifecycle management are also high priorities, especially for banks, at 82%. However, asset managers place greater emphasis on primary distribution capabilities, with a rate of 80%.
Banks also show a strong demand for consulting during the implementation phase. About 85% of banks stated that pre-issuance structural consulting is very important.
In comparison, this figure is 76% among asset managers. This gap indicates that banks seek experiential guidance beyond technical deployment.
Among respondents exploring stablecoin payments, 57% wish to obtain integrated custody, orchestration, and compliance services.
This preference helps institutions avoid directly holding stablecoin balances. As governance standards tighten, coordinated partner support has become a key factor in selection.
Partner preferences also reflect broader concerns in the digital asset space. Regulatory transparency ranks highest at 40%.