Ripple Predicts Institutional Adoption at Scale in 2026 as XRPL Momentum Builds

Institutional adoption of the XRP Ledger is accelerating as a major global asset manager moves traditional funds onchain, signaling growing momentum for tokenized finance and setting the stage for scaled blockchain integration by 2026.

Ripple Executives Outline Bold 2026 Forecasts for Institutional Crypto Growth

Ripple President Monica Long shared on social media platform X on Feb. 12 that institutional adoption of the XRP Ledger is accelerating, pointing to a major asset manager’s move to bring traditional funds onchain and signaling expectations for scaled adoption in 2026.

She stated:

“In 2026, expect institutional adoption at scale!”

Long reflected on progress following XRP Community Day, writing that momentum is building toward making the XRPL the go-to blockchain for institutional decentralized finance.

Her remarks followed a Feb. 11 update from Markus Infanger, SVP of RippleX, who described Aviva Investors’ decision to tokenize fund structures on the XRPL as “a genuinely huge moment for XRPL as traditional finance moves onchain.” The development centers on a partnership between Aviva Investors, the global asset management business of Aviva plc, and Ripple to explore tokenizing traditional fund products on the XRP Ledger.

Several Ripple executives have outlined bullish projections for 2026, centering on what they describe as the institutionalization of the XRP Ledger and the broader crypto market following the passage of the GENIUS Act in 2025. Long predicts that 50% of Fortune 500 companies will have formal digital asset strategies or hold crypto on their balance sheets by the end of 2026, and she anticipates that 5%–10% of capital markets settlement will move onchain as custodian banks and clearing houses adopt tokenization.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said in a January interview that 2026 will be the “all-time best performing year” for crypto markets, driven by regulatory clarity and institutional capital “that has not been priced in yet,” while reaffirming Ripple’s vision of XRP as the “heartbeat” of global financial infrastructure. Managing Director Reece Merrick forecast that by year-end “every significant bank, asset manager, and payment network” will have meaningful exposure to digital assets, and CTO Emeritus David Schwartz characterized institutional engagement on the XRPL as having shifted from experimentation to operational infrastructure.

FAQ 🧭

• Why is Aviva Investors tokenizing funds on the XRP Ledger significant for institutional crypto adoption?

Aviva Investors’ move to explore tokenizing traditional fund products on XRPL marks a pivotal step in bringing real-world assets onchain, signaling growing institutional trust and accelerating blockchain integration in mainstream asset management.

• What does Ripple expect for institutional adoption of XRP and XRPL by 2026?

Ripple President Monica Long projects scaled institutional adoption by 2026, forecasting that 50% of Fortune 500 companies will implement digital asset strategies and that 5%–10% of capital markets settlement could shift onchain.

• How could the GENIUS Act and regulatory clarity impact XRP and the broader crypto market?

Ripple executives argue that post-GENIUS Act regulatory clarity will unlock sidelined institutional capital, potentially driving 2026 to become the strongest year on record for crypto market performance.

• What does Ripple leadership’s outlook suggest about XRP’s role in global financial infrastructure?

From Brad Garlinghouse’s vision of XRP as the “heartbeat” of global finance to David Schwartz’s view that institutions are moving from pilots to operational use, Ripple positions XRPL as core infrastructure for tokenized capital markets.