Ripple President Predicts Stablecoins Will Become Core to Global Finance by 2026
Ripple President Monica Long predicts that stablecoins will transition from pilot projects to full production by 2026, becoming a foundational layer integrated into mainstream global finance and payment systems.
Stablecoins are expected to become the default mechanism for cross-border settlements, integrating with legacy financial rails within five years. Business-to-business payments are anticipated to drive the next wave of adoption, with corporate use of stablecoins expanding beyond retail and remittances.
Notably, payment giants Visa and Stripe have already implemented USDC settlement for merchants, signaling that blockchain payment rails are gaining traction within existing corporate payment flows.
Europe, holding roughly €1.3 trillion in working capital across payables, receivables, and inventory, stands to benefit from stablecoins enabling real-time settlement and improved cash flow management.
Regulatory clarity, such as the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, underpins this shift. By 2027, banks in regulated regions are expected to both issue and hold regulated stablecoins.
Custody services are also projected to consolidate, with more than half of the top 50 banks likely formalizing digital asset custody relationships in 2026. The acceleration of crypto mergers and acquisitions will further enhance usability and scale.
Overall, the crypto market is evolving from a distinct asset class into the operating layer of finance, with institutional balance sheets potentially holding over $1 trillion in tokenized assets by the end of 2026.
