EU Firms Ahead in Digital Asset Adoption, But UK Catches Up

European and UK financial institutions are moving towards a digital asset economy, but they're not starting from the same place. Fireblocks' 2026 Financial Grid survey found that nearly all continental European institutions (99%) and every U.K. respondent expect policy to support digital asset adoption.

The main difference lies in execution. Europe's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation (MiCA) has given firms a defined framework, with 53% of continental institutions having committed funding before 2026, compared to the global average of 42%. In contrast, only 36% of U.K. institutions had already set budgets, but 59% plan to commit money during 2026.

European institutions now see practical infrastructure as the main barrier to faster adoption, with reliable connections between digital assets and fiat currencies cited by 55% of respondents. Meanwhile, in the U.K., core-system limitations were a major obstacle for 71% of institutions.