72% of Firms Say Digital Assets Are Now Essential

• 1. Ripple surveyed 1,000+ executives; 72% say digital assets are vital to stay competitive.
• 2. Stablecoins ranked top, with 74% citing better liquidity use and faster value movement.
• 3. 89% prioritize custody, while 71% of corporates prefer one digital asset provider.

Ripple’s 2026 Digital Asset Survey shows that digital assets are now a core area of focus for finance leaders across several sectors. The survey collected views from more than 1,000 respondents in banks, asset managers, fintech firms, and corporates. The results found that 72% of the finance leaders need a digital asset offering to stay competitive.

Ripple linked that shift to progressive regulation, growing interest from Tier-1 banks, stronger stablecoin adoption, and consumers moving from banks to fintech providers. 

Stablecoins Move Into Everyday Financial Operations

Stablecoins received the strongest support among the digital asset use cases covered in Ripple’s survey. About 74% of respondents believe stablecoins can improve cash-flow efficiency and release working capital that would otherwise remain tied up. 

The survey also shows that finance leaders now connect stablecoins with treasury activity, not only payments. Faster settlement remains one of the main benefits, yet the results suggest that firms are also looking at broader operational use. 

Among fintech firms, 31% use stablecoins to collect payments, while 29% accept payments directly in stablecoins. Corporates, however, are taking a different approach, with 74% preferring to work with partners that already offer these services.

This shift highlights how stablecoins are moving from a niche use case to a core part of financial operations.

Fintechs Lead, Corporates Prefer Partnerships

The survey shows a clear divide in how different sectors are adopting digital assets.

Fintech firms are leading the way, often using digital assets across multiple business functions. About 47% of fintechs prefer to build their own solutions, showing a stronger appetite for in-house development.

In contrast, only 14% of corporates prefer to build internally. Most are choosing ready-made solutions, signaling a strong demand for external providers.

Banks and asset managers are also focusing on partnerships, especially in tokenization. Among banks, 82% highlighted token servicing and lifecycle management as key priorities, while 85% emphasized pre-issuance structuring support. Asset managers, on the other hand, placed more focus on primary distribution (80%).

Custody and Security Drive Partner Selection

Custody remains the top priority across all segments. About 89% of respondents said secure digital asset storage is a key requirement when selecting partners.

Ripple survey shows that there is also strong demand for all-in-one providers. More than half of fintechs and financial institutions prefer a single platform offering multiple services. Among corporates, this rises to 71%, showing a clear preference for simplified infrastructure.

Regulation and security continue to shape decisions. Around 40% of respondents pointed to regulatory clarity as a key factor, while 37% highlighted security and safekeeping. Another 30% cited compliance, and 29% pointed to price volatility.

Security credentials ranked highest overall, with 97% of respondents saying certifications like ISO and SOC II are critical. This was followed by technical support (88%), industry experience (80%), and financial strength (79%).