Key Highlights
- 72% of finance leaders say digital assets are essential; stablecoins and secure custody lead priorities.
- Fintechs lead adoption, using stablecoins for payments and treasury while relying on trusted custodians.
- Ripple expands in Brazil with cross-border payments, stablecoin liquidity, and a regulatory compliance focus.
Finance leaders are moving to make digital assets a core part of payments, treasury, and risk management. A survey by Ripple of more than 1,000 global finance professional leaders shows widespread urgency across banks, asset managers, fintechs, and corporations.
As per the firm’s blog post, conducted at the start of 2026, the results imply that 72% of the respondents feel digital assets are no longer a luxury but a necessity to be competitive. Another aspect that emerged from the respondents’ views was the increase in usage of stablecoins, as well as a focus on secure infrastructure providers. The survey also revealed strong consensus around stablecoin adoption, secure infrastructure partners, and growing interest in tokenization.
Stablecoins gain traction
Stablecoins are being identified as use case finance leaders are most bullish on. The survey indicates that 74% of finance leaders recognize stablecoins as tools for cash flow management, not only for payments. More companies are adopting stablecoins to unlock trapped working capital and enhance the efficiency of treasury.
Ripple noted on X, “Most finance leaders aren’t debating digital assets anymore. They’re figuring out how to build with them and who to build with.” Fintechs are leading the way, with 31% collecting payments in stablecoins, and 29% accepting them directly. Many also use multiple digital asset solutions at once and rely on custodial partners to keep funds secure.
Interest in tokenization is also growing. Among banks and asset managers evaluating tokenization partners, 82% of banks prioritize token servicing and lifecycle management, while 80% of asset managers emphasize primary distribution. These figures suggest that institutional demand for tokenized financial products is moving from exploration into active vendor evaluation.
Custody and infrastructure remain critical
One of the key issues for companies using digital assets is security and compliance. In the survey conducted, it was found that 89% of banks and asset managers ranked secure custody as a key issue for them. In addition, 85% of banks require advisory support prior to issuing digital assets.
Respondents also prioritize partners with certifications such as ISO and SOC II (97%), strong technical support (88%), and relevant industry experience (80%). As a result, many institutions prefer a single provider that can handle multiple services, reducing complexity while staying compliant with regulations. Among corporates, that preference for a one-stop-shop solution rises to 71%, compared to slightly more than half of fintechs and financial institutions.
The survey also identified respondents’ top concerns surrounding digital assets: regulatory clarity (40%), security and safekeeping (37%), compliance requirements (30%), and price volatility (29%). These priorities are shaping how institutions evaluate infrastructure partners and make adoption decisions.
Ripple expands global reach
Separately from the survey, Ripple’s recent moves, for instance, in Brazil, show the company’s focus on regulated markets. It now provides cross-border payments, stablecoin liquidity, and digital asset custody for banks and fintechs in the country.
Monica Long, Ripple’s President, said, “Latin America has always been a priority market for Ripple—not just because of the scale of the opportunity, but because Brazil has built one of the most advanced financial ecosystems in the world.”
The company is also pursuing a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license in Brazil and has launched a $750 million share buyback, steps seen as measures to increase confidence among investors and partners.
In light of this, digital assets have moved beyond experimentation in finance. Companies across industries are now planning how to use stablecoins, tokenization, and secure infrastructure to stay competitive in the future. The survey’s findings reflect a market moving with greater alignment and intention—and as Ripple’s own expansion demonstrates, the infrastructure decisions being made today will shape competitive positioning for years to come.
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