Digital Asset Investments Boom, But Production Lags Behind

Financial institutions around the world are investing heavily in digital asset infrastructure, but progress remains slow. According to a new report from Fireblocks, nearly nine out of ten financial institutions have committed or plan to commit budget to digital asset infrastructure this year. However, only about one in six has actually reached production status.

The survey, conducted by The Value Exchange in January 2026 across various regions, found that 88-89% of institutions have allocated funds for digital asset initiatives. Some 53% of these institutions are spending $1 million or more on production-scale projects. Financial infrastructure transformation is cited as the top driver behind these efforts.

The report also highlights a shift in how institutions view regulation. An overwhelming 96% of respondents expect that upcoming regulatory frameworks, including MiCA and evolving US guidance, will be favorable or very favorable for digital asset adoption. This change in perspective reflects the growing importance of clear guidelines for banks to custody, trade, and offer digital asset products.

The competitive landscape is also changing, with 43% of respondents identifying fintech companies and payment service providers as the primary competitive threat driving their blockchain and digital asset strategies. Institutions are prioritizing use cases such as payment solutions, tokenized securities, stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and tokenized securities.