Stablecoin News: Finance Leaders Shift Focus to Cash Flow Strategies in 2026 Survey

New survey data reveals a significant shift in how global finance leaders perceive and utilize stablecoins, moving beyond simple payment tools to instruments for enhancing cash flow efficiency and treasury management. A survey of over 1,000 finance leaders by Ripple indicates that 74% of leaders now use stablecoins for cash flow efficiency, highlighting their growing importance in financial operations.

Shift Towards Treasury and Liquidity Management

The findings, encompassing banks, asset managers, fintech firms, and corporates, show that 72% of respondents believe offering digital asset solutions is now essential for competitiveness. Stablecoins have emerged as a key use case, with a majority viewing them as tools for unlocking working capital and improving treasury operations. While faster settlement is a recognized benefit, the emphasis is increasingly on liquidity management gains over transaction speed alone, integrating stablecoins more deeply into core treasury functions.

Fintech Firms Lead Stablecoin Adoption

Fintech companies are at the forefront of digital asset adoption. The survey highlights that 31% of fintech firms collect payments via stablecoins, and 29% accept them as a payment method. Fintechs also show a preference for building internal solutions, with 47% developing their own infrastructure, contrasting with corporates who largely plan to rely on external partners.

Custody and Infrastructure are Key Institutional Concerns

When evaluating tokenization partners, 89% of institutions prioritize custody, underscoring the critical need for secure digital asset infrastructure. Banks and asset managers are also focused on additional services, with 82% of banks valuing token servicing and lifecycle management, and 80% of asset managers prioritizing primary distribution capabilities. Advisory services, such as pre-issuance structuring support, are also highly valued, particularly by banks (85%).

Institutions seeking to collect or pay with stablecoins show a strong interest in integrated custody and compliance solutions, with 57% preferring not to hold balances directly. A preference for consolidated service providers is evident, with over half of fintechs and financial institutions favoring one-stop-shop solutions, a figure rising to 71% among corporates. Key concerns for partner selection include regulatory clarity (40%), security (37%), and compliance (30%), with price volatility noted by 29%.