Ripple said its new 2026 survey shows digital assets are moving into the core of financial services planning. The poll covered more than 1,000 finance leaders from banks, asset managers, fintechs, and corporates, and 72% said companies must offer digital asset solutions to stay competitive.
Stablecoins ranked as the leading use case in the survey. About 74% of respondents said stablecoins can improve cash-flow efficiency and unlock trapped working capital. Ripple said this points to a broader shift: many firms now see stablecoins not just as payment tools, but as part of treasury and liquidity management.
Stablecoin demand tracks broader market growth
Ripple linked that interest to expansion across the wider market. The company said stablecoin market capitalization moved above $300 billion in early March, with adoption spreading across payments, trading, and business settlement. That context helps explain why finance teams are treating stablecoins as operating tools rather than a narrow crypto product.
The survey suggests institutions are focused on practical outcomes. Speed matters, but so does capital efficiency. For firms managing settlement timelines, internal cash movement, and cross-border operations, stablecoins are being evaluated through that lens.
Tokenization priorities are shifting toward infrastructure
Interest in tokenization was also strong, though the emphasis has changed. Among banks and asset managers reviewing tokenization partners, 89% said custody and secure storage were a main priority. Banks ranked token lifecycle management at 82%, while asset managers put primary distribution at 80%.
Those responses indicate that many firms are now concentrating on the systems needed to support digital assets in live environments. Custody, issuance, distribution, and lifecycle controls are no longer secondary questions. Ripple said institutions want providers that can support both current requirements and future expansion.
Security credentials and support top partner selection criteria
Security came out as the top factor in choosing a digital asset partner. According to Ripple, 97% of respondents said certifications such as ISO and SOC II were important or very important. Post-integration technical support followed at 88%, while industry experience and financial strength also ranked highly.
The survey found a clear preference for consolidation as well. Ripple said 71% of corporates favor a one-stop-shop model for multiple digital asset services. Slightly more than half of fintechs and financial institutions said the same, showing that buyers are looking closely at integration and operating simplicity.
Ripple pairs the survey with its own regional expansion
Ripple summarized the shift this way: “Most finance leaders aren’t debating digital assets anymore. They’re figuring out how to build with them and who to build with.” The comment matches a market where institutions are moving from early testing into active implementation plans.
The company is also expanding in Latin America. As previously reported, Ripple said it plans to apply for a VASP license in Brazil, adding to its push in payments and tokenization across the region.