Ripple President: 50% of the Fortune 500 will hold tokens by 2026, with the total enterprise digital asset value surpassing $1 trillion

Ripple President Monica Long predicts that by the end of 2026, about 250 companies in the US Fortune 500 will hold cryptocurrencies, with the total digital asset value on corporate balance sheets surpassing $1 trillion. Blockchain is becoming the “modern financial operating layer.” A Coinbase survey shows that 60% of Fortune 500 companies have initiated blockchain projects, and the number of digital asset management firms has exploded from 4 in 2020 to over 200.

Ripple President: Blockchain Becomes the Foundation of Modern Finance

Ripple President Monica Long made a bold prediction in a Monday blog post, stating that over the past few years, the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry has been working hard to lay the “technological and regulatory groundwork” to promote widespread adoption and mainstream acceptance. Now that these foundations are in place, a surge in institutional adoption is imminent.

Long explicitly stated: “By the end of 2026, digital assets on balance sheets will exceed $1 trillion, and about half of Fortune 500 companies will have formal digital asset strategies.” This means that the largest 250 US companies will not just be testing the waters but actively participating in areas such as tokenized assets, digital asset repositories, stablecoins, on-chain treasuries, and programmable financial instruments.

Blockchain is shifting from experimental technology to the “operating layer of modern finance.” The core of this transformation lies in blockchain’s real-time settlement, transparency, and programmability—features that traditional financial infrastructure lacks. When companies put treasuries on-chain, use stablecoins for cross-border payments, and automate financial processes via smart contracts, blockchain becomes indispensable rather than optional.

As a company focused on enterprise-grade blockchain payment solutions, Ripple’s predictions are backed by practical experience. Ripple’s RippleNet has provided cross-border payment services to hundreds of financial institutions worldwide, and its legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) achieved partial victory in 2023, laying a foundation for clearer industry regulation. Long’s forecast is built on years of collaboration with banks and enterprises.

60% of Fortune 500 Companies Have Initiated Blockchain Projects

Long’s prediction is not just talk; it is supported by solid data. She cites a mid-2025 survey by Coinbase, which found that 60% of Fortune 500 executives say their employers are already working on blockchain projects. This figure indicates that institutional adoption is no longer a question of “if” but “how to accelerate.”

While the number of Fortune 500 companies holding Bitcoin is still limited, it is growing rapidly. GameStop bought 4,710 Bitcoin for the first time in May 2025, and companies like Block Inc and Tesla are also on the list. These pioneers set an example for others, and as more CFOs recognize the value of digital assets in asset allocation, the number of coin-holding companies will grow exponentially.

Even more remarkable is the explosive growth of digital asset management companies (DAT). Long pointed out: “The number of digital asset management firms has grown from 4 in 2020 to over 200 today, with nearly 100 more expected to be established in 2025.” This rapid growth reflects the huge market demand for professional digital asset services. As companies begin holding cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets, they require specialized custody, auditing, and management services, and the surge in DATs is a direct response to this need.

Ripple plays a key role in this wave of institutional adoption. Its enterprise solutions like On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) allow financial institutions to use XRP as a bridge currency for real-time cross-border payments without pre-funding accounts in the target country. This technology has been adopted by multiple payment companies, demonstrating that blockchain can create tangible value in real-world commercial scenarios.

Stablecoins Will Become the Global Settlement Standard

Long made a strong prediction about the stablecoin market. She believes that with regulatory progress, initiatives by giants like Visa and Mastercard, and the practical utility of the technology, stablecoins will become the primary tool for global settlement in the coming years. She stated: “Within the next five years, stablecoins will be fully integrated into the global payment system—not as an alternative payment method, but as a fundamental payment infrastructure.”

This forecast is based on the core advantages of stablecoins: real-time settlement, low cost, and programmability. Traditional cross-border payments require days to settle and incur high fees, whereas stablecoins can settle in seconds at a cost of just a few cents. For companies that frequently make international payments, this efficiency is revolutionary.

Payment giants like Visa and Mastercard have already begun integrating stablecoins. Visa has launched a stablecoin-based B2B payment solution, and Mastercard has partnered with multiple stablecoin issuers. As traditional payment networks embrace stablecoins, they are no longer fringe technology but part of mainstream financial infrastructure.

Ripple is also active in the stablecoin space. The company launched RLUSD, a USD-pegged stablecoin designed to offer compliant and reliable dollar-stablecoin options for enterprises. Compared to mainstream stablecoins like USDT and USDC, Ripple’s RLUSD benefits from its deep relationships with financial institutions and regulatory compliance experience, making it easier for banks and enterprises to accept.

Cryptocurrency Custody Accelerates Blockchain Strategy

Long stated that she expects banks, service providers, and crypto companies to begin directly custody cryptocurrencies to accelerate “their blockchain strategies.” The driving force behind this trend is the improvement in regulatory clarity and enterprises’ demand for autonomous control over digital assets.

A year after Gary Gensler’s departure, the SEC’s cryptocurrency strategy has changed dramatically. The new leadership is more open, willing to engage with the industry, and to develop clear regulatory frameworks. This shift clears obstacles for banks to offer crypto custody services. When banks can custody cryptocurrencies compliantly, corporate willingness to hold digital assets will increase significantly, as they can use familiar financial institutions rather than emerging crypto custodians.

Direct custody also means faster settlement and lower costs. Third-party custodians charge high fees and add transaction layers, whereas direct custody by banks can integrate cryptocurrencies into overall corporate treasury management systems, enabling seamless fund flows. Ripple’s enterprise clients are already practicing this model; when making payments via RippleNet, funds flow on the blockchain but settle in bank accounts.

AI and Blockchain Integration Opens the Era of Programmable Finance

Long also said that the integration of artificial intelligence and blockchain will greatly advance the industry and provide practical value in “ways previously impossible.” She specifically pointed out: “Stablecoins and smart contracts will enable treasuries to manage liquidity, execute margin calls, and optimize on-chain repurchase agreements—all in real-time without manual intervention.”

The combination of AI and blockchain creates possibilities for programmable finance. AI can analyze market data, forecast liquidity needs, and automatically trigger smart contract transactions. For example, corporate finance departments can set rules so that when cash balances fall below a certain threshold, AI automatically reallocates funds from stablecoin pools; when arbitrage opportunities arise, AI executes trades and locks in profits.

Privacy will be a key factor in this expansion. Long emphasized: “Zero-knowledge proofs will allow AI systems to assess creditworthiness or risk without revealing sensitive data, reducing lending friction and promoting broader use of digital assets in regulated markets.” This technology enables companies to prove their financial status without disclosing specific figures, protecting business secrets while gaining access to financing or trading opportunities.

Ripple’s exploration in this area includes integrating AI into its payment network to optimize liquidity management and exchange rate selection. When enterprises need to make cross-border payments, AI can analyze all available liquidity pools, exchange rates, and fees in real-time, choosing the best route and executing automatically. This intelligent approach will make blockchain payments faster, cheaper, and smarter.