Traditional banks have invested over $100 billion in blockchain from 2020 to 2024, showing digital assets going mainstream. The “Banking on Digital Assets” report, backed by Ripple, CB Insights, and UK CBT, analyzed 10,000+ deals and surveyed 1,800+ finance leaders, revealing a focus on custody, tokenization, and payment infrastructure.

Between 2020 and 2024, traditional financial institutions engaged in 345 blockchain deals globally, with the majority investing in payment-related infrastructure, crypto custody, tokenization, and on-chain foreign exchange. A quarter of investments were in infrastructure providers for blockchain settlement and asset issuance rails.

Over 90% of surveyed finance executives predict blockchain and digital assets will significantly impact finance by 2028. 65% of banks are exploring digital asset custody, with stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets as top priorities. Examples include HSBC’s tokenized gold platform and Goldman Sachs’ blockchain settlement tool.

Despite recent regulatory uncertainties, two-thirds of banks plan to launch a digital asset initiative within three years. Ripple’s report highlights the growth of blockchain investments from traditional finance, particularly in emerging markets like the UAE, India, and Singapore, which are outpacing the U.S. and Europe.

The future of institutional adoption in blockchain lies in modernizing cross-border payments, balance sheet management, and reducing reliance on legacy systems. Ripple emphasizes that real-world asset tokenization is moving from theory to implementation, with a focus on transforming global finance infrastructure silently rather than through hype cycles.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Banks Have Invested Over $100 Billion in Blockchain Infrastructure Since 2020