I just saw an interesting survey from Ripple showing how much the financial industry is currently shifting. Over 1,000 financial leaders worldwide were surveyed – and the results are quite clear: digital assets are no longer optional but are becoming a strategic necessity.

What’s particularly exciting is that stablecoins play a special role in this. 74 percent of respondents see them as a real tool to improve cash flow efficiency and unlock working capital. This isn’t some niche stuff – these are real treasury instruments that companies are now using.

What caught my attention most: fintech companies are much further ahead in implementation. They’re not just experimenting but actively deploying digital assets – 31 percent use stablecoins for customer payments, and 29 percent accept them directly. But here’s where it gets interesting: while large fintech firms are developing some solutions themselves (47 percent), many also rely on specialized custodians and infrastructure partners.

Banks and asset managers are taking a different approach. They focus more on tokenization and secure custody – 89 percent of those involved prioritize custody infrastructure first. Banks place great importance on token management (82 percent), while asset managers tend to focus more on distribution (80 percent).

It’s also interesting how security and certifications have become so important. 97 percent say they are critical – standards like ISO, SOC 2, and similar are no longer luxuries but prerequisites. This shows that the industry is maturing.

The overall picture: digital assets are becoming the norm, not the exception. The infrastructure decisions that fintech companies and traditional financial institutions make today will likely shape their competitive advantage in the coming years. Those who choose the right infrastructure now will have a real edge tomorrow.