Fireblocks Report Shows 88% of Financial Institutions Budgeting for Digital Asset Infrastructure in 2026

Financial institutions are moving to fund digital asset infrastructure, with 88% of firms surveyed by Fireblocks reporting that they have committed or expect to commit budget for 2026. An additional 11% of respondents indicated they plan to delay their spending until 2027.

The findings are based on research conducted in January 2026, which included 638 decision-makers from various financial institutions and corporations. While budget commitments are high, the report notes that only 16% of financial institutions have successfully reached the production stage for their issuer and user infrastructure.

Among the institutions that have determined the size of their investment, 53% plan to allocate at least $1 million toward digital asset infrastructure. These figures reflect planned investments rather than confirmed spending or guaranteed project launches.

The survey also highlighted the priorities and concerns driving these investment plans. Cross-border payments and foreign exchange were identified as a priority use case by 81% of respondents. Additionally, 96% of financial institutions expect upcoming digital asset regulations to be favorable or very favorable.

Competition from non-bank entities is acting as a catalyst for investment, with 43% of institutions citing it as a critical driver. However, firms are also facing operational hurdles, as 42% of financial institutions identified a skills gap as a significant obstacle to their progress.

The report clarifies that while institutions are prioritizing areas like custody and tokenized assets alongside cross-border settlement, the data reflects survey responses regarding interest and planning rather than confirmed corporate budget commitments for specific sectors.