Ripple President Monica Long argues that the cryptocurrency market will leave the testing phase behind and enter the real usage period by 2026. According to Ripple President, banks and large companies are preparing to adopt Blockchain-based solutions as direct operational infrastructure, not as trial projects. The long-term prediction is that crypto will be at the center of modern finance, reaching up to half of Fortune 500 companies. Long’s evaluations bear the signs of a broad transformation from payment systems to corporate investments.
Stablecoins Are Embedding in the Global Payment Infrastructure
In Long’s vision for 2026, stablecoins become one of the main layers of the global payment infrastructure rather than an alternative tool. In particular, dollar-based cryptocurrencies are expected to offer speed and cost advantages in cross-border payments. Slow reconciliation processes, which have long been a problem in the financial world, can be reduced to minutes or even seconds with stablecoin-based solutions.
Digital dollar integrations of major payment companies stand out as the first steps of this transformation. The increased use of stablecoins in corporate payment flows will make companies’ cash management more flexible. Real-time funding access and transparency creates a critical advantage, especially for multinational companies.
Business-to-business (B2B) payments are seen as the driver of growth. Long emphasizes that liquidity management and operational efficiency will be decisive in companies’ preference for stablecoins. By 2027, it is considered a possible scenario for regulated stablecoins to be used for 24/7 asset transfer in banking systems.
Institutional Adoption, ETFs and AI Impact
The spread of cryptocurrencies among large companies has accelerated. Research conducted in 2025 reveals that a significant portion of Fortune 500 companies are actively working on Blockchain projects. The presence of Bitcoin on the balance sheets of hundreds of public companies shows that the corporate approach has become permanent.
Monica Long predicts that by 2026, approximately half of the Fortune 500 could directly own cryptocurrency. This investment situation is not just about holding cryptocurrencies. The use of stablecoins and tokenized financial products are also covered. In the corporate world, cryptocurrency goes beyond being an investment tool and is integrated into business processes.
The proliferation of ETFs is lowering barriers to institutional entry. Numerous crypto ETFs launched in 2025, making access easier for traditional investors. Increasing mergers and acquisitions in the same period made custody services a strategic area. Long also states that the collaboration of Blockchain and artificial intelligence will automate financial processes and bring the global system to a faster and simpler structure.
