Ripple President Sees Half of Fortune 500 Firms Adopting Crypto Strategies as Corporate Treasuries Move Onchain by 2026

• Half of Fortune 500 companies are planning formal crypto strategies as digital assets enter core treasury operations by 2026.

• Stablecoins have emerged as primary settlement tools, helping companies unlock liquidity and improve capital efficiency worldwide.

• Banks have expanded custody and onchain settlement services as institutional capital markets shift toward blockchain systems.

Monica Long says large corporations are preparing for a major shift in how they manage money and assets. She projects that nearly half of Fortune 500 companies will hold crypto exposure by the end of 2026. This change reflects deeper integration of digital assets into corporate finance. Moreover, firms are moving beyond experimentation toward structured deployment.

Ripple president Monica Long predicts 50% of Fortune 500 companies will engage with crypto by 2026, citing blockchain as finance’s new operating layer and forecasting $1 trillion in global digital asset holdings.

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According to her outlook, corporate balance sheets could absorb close to one trillion dollars in digital assets. This capital would support tokenized assets, onchain Treasury bills, stablecoins, and programmable financial tools. Consequently, crypto is becoming part of daily financial operations. The focus is shifting from speculation to infrastructure and efficiency.

Corporate Treasury Strategies Move Onchain

Long expects roughly 250 Fortune 500 firms to formalize crypto strategies within the next year. These strategies include digital asset treasuries and tokenized financial instruments. Additionally, companies see blockchain as a core layer for modern finance. This shift aligns with demands for faster settlement and improved liquidity control.

Furthermore, institutional interest has expanded beyond pilot projects. Many corporations are now integrating digital assets into treasury planning. As a result, crypto exposure no longer sits at the edge of financial strategy. Instead, it supports working capital management and asset mobility.

Crypto exchange-traded funds have also accelerated exposure for traditional investors. However, ETFs still represent a small portion of overall institutional activity. Therefore, significant room for growth remains across direct onchain usage. This trend supports broader adoption inside corporate finance teams.

Stablecoins Become Core Settlement Infrastructure

Stablecoins play a central role in this transition. Long views them as foundational settlement tools rather than alternative payment rails. Major payment networks already integrate stablecoins into existing flows. Consequently, digital dollars now support real-time settlement across borders.

Business-to-business payments stand out as the main growth driver. Corporations use stablecoins to improve liquidity timing and reduce friction. Additionally, stablecoins allow firms to move capital instantly between subsidiaries. This capability improves cash efficiency across global operations.

Regulatory clarity also supports adoption. Several jurisdictions are now developing stablecoin-focused frameworks. In the United States, lawmakers have advanced comprehensive legislation, such as the GENIUS Act that covers stablecoins. These policies give corporates more confidence to deploy stablecoins at scale.

Stablecoins also address trapped capital challenges. Companies often face delays accessing funds across payment systems. Digital settlement tools can unlock hundreds of billions in idle working capital. Therefore, stablecoins offer operational benefits beyond simple payments.

Capital Markets and Custody Drive Institutional Expansion

Long also highlighted the growth within capital markets infrastructure. She expects 5% to 10% of market settlements to move onchain. Collateral mobility remains the primary driver behind this shift. Onchain settlement allows faster reuse of assets across markets.

Mergers and acquisitions activity further supports the trend. Institutional crypto deal volume reached $8.6 billion during 2025. Custody services are driving the next consolidation phase. About half of the world’s top fifty banks could form new custody partnerships in 2026.