A new report by Ripple, in collaboration with CB Insights and the UK Centre for Blockchain Technologies (UKCBT), has found that 90% of global finance leaders believe blockchain will have a “significant or massive” impact on the financial industry within the next three years.
This signals that banks and financial institutions are no longer merely exploring the technology, but are actively implementing it.
Blockchain Moves From Pilots to Practice
Ripple’s findings show that institutions now see blockchain as a foundational layer for tomorrow’s financial infrastructure.
Whether it’s enabling near-instant cross-border settlements, creating programmable money via smart contracts, or facilitating fractional ownership of real-world assets (RWAs), blockchain is now core to many strategic roadmaps.
Related: Ripple CLO Highlights Real Crypto Use Cases Ahead of Senate Testimony
In 2025 alone, stablecoin transactions are averaging $700 billion per month, and projections from Boston Consulting Group forecast nearly $19 trillion in tokenized assets by 2033, showcasing strong demand.
“Financial institutions are putting blockchain to work—diversifying portfolios, enabling crypto payments, offering custody services, tokenizing assets and more,”
Who’s Investing—and Where?
The Ripple report analyzed data from over 8,000 blockchain startups and 1,800 banks, uncovering more than 30 mega-round funding deals (over $100 million) between 2020–2024 involving major financial institutions.
JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and SBI Group were among the most active investors, showing strong interest in building infrastructure around tokenization, staking, and digital asset trading.
The National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (RAKBANK) even became the first conventional UAE bank to offer retail crypto trading, blurring the lines between TradFi and DeFi.
Regulation: A Growing Fault Line
Despite the progress, not all financial institutions are on board. UK banking giant Barclays announced it will block crypto transactions via Barclaycard, citing volatility and lack of regulatory protections.
In contrast, JPMorgan is reportedly exploring crypto-backed loans, signaling growing comfort with digital assets as long as frameworks evolve alongside them.
Related: Ripple CTO Dismisses Forbes Defense of Sam Bankman-Fried as “Nonsense”
In the Ripple report, Francesco Pierangeli of UKCBT emphasized the need for shared standards, robust security, and cross-border legal clarity to fully unlock the benefits of decentralized finance.
The American fintech concluded that blockchain is “no longer optional” and offering new financial services is now necessary for any financial institution’s longevity.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. The article does not constitute financial advice or advice of any kind. Coin Edition is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of the utilization of content, products, or services mentioned. Readers are advised to exercise caution before taking any action related to the company.
