Ripple Survey Says 72% See Digital Assets as Essential

Ripple said a new 2026 survey shows digital assets are moving closer to the center of financial services strategy. 

• Ripple found stablecoins lead demand as finance firms seek faster treasury tools and working capital efficiency.
• Banks and asset managers ranked custody and secure storage among top tokenization infrastructure priorities.
• Most respondents said security certifications and trusted providers matter most when choosing digital asset partners.

Meanwhile, the company polled more than 1,000 finance leaders across banks, asset managers, fintechs, and corporates, with 72% saying firms must offer digital asset solutions to stay competitive.

Ripple said stablecoins ranked as the top digital asset use case in the survey. About 74% of respondents said stablecoins can boost cash-flow efficiency and unlock trapped working capital, showing that many firms now view them as tools for treasury and liquidity management, not only payments.

The report linked that demand to wider market growth. Ripple noted that the stablecoin market cap moved above $300 billion in early March, as adoption expanded across payments, trading, and business settlement.

The survey also showed rising interest in tokenization. Among banks and asset managers looking at tokenization partners, 89% said custody and secure storage were a main priority. Banks ranked token lifecycle management at 82%, while asset managers placed primary distribution at 80%.

Ripple said the results show that many firms are now focused on the systems needed to support digital assets. “The key takeaway here is that finance leaders want more from the crypto companies offering these solutions,” the company wrote, adding that institutions want a provider that can support current and future needs.

Additionally, security ranked as the top factor in partner selection. Ripple said 97% of respondents viewed certifications such as ISO and SOC II as important or very important. Post-integration technical support followed at 88%, while industry experience and financial strength also ranked highly.

The survey also found that many firms prefer one provider for several digital asset services. Ripple said 71% of corporates favor a one-stop-shop model, while slightly more than half of fintechs and financial institutions do the same.

Ripple expands as adoption grows

The findings match broader adoption trends, where firms are moving from early testing to live digital asset plans. Ripple said, 

“Most finance leaders aren’t debating digital assets anymore. They’re figuring out how to build with them and who to build with.”

As previously reported by Crypto News, that shift also comes as Ripple expands in Latin America. The company recently said it plans to apply for a VASP license in Brazil, adding to its push in payments and tokenization in the region.