25% of Institutions Plan to Add XRP in 2026; Report

TLDR

• Coinbase survey found 25% of institutions plan to add XRP in 2026.
• About 18% of institutions already held XRP as of January 2026.
• The survey covered 351 institutional investors, with 96% managing over $1 billion.
• Around 73% of institutions plan to increase overall crypto allocations in 2026.
• About 56% of institutions are expected to hold assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Institutional investors are continuing to adjust their crypto strategies in 2026, and XRP is emerging as one of the assets drawing increased attention. A January 2026 survey conducted by Coinbase in partnership with Ernst & Young found that 25% of institutions plan to add XRP to their allocations this year, even as the broader digital asset market remains under pressure.

The survey came during a period of weakness across crypto markets. Since October 2025, the total market value has fallen by about $1.45 trillion, while XRP has declined nearly 51% over the same period. Despite that drop, the survey indicates that institutional investors are not stepping away from the sector. Instead, many are refining their approaches to crypto exposure, custody, and risk management.

Coinbase’s survey included 351 institutional investors, 96% of whom manage more than $1 billion in assets. Most respondents were based in the United States, while others came from Europe and additional regions. The findings showed that 73% of institutions plan to increase their crypto holdings in 2026, and 29% expect digital assets to account for more than 5% of total assets under management, up from 18% previously.

Institutions Shift Strategy While Maintaining Crypto Exposure

The survey showed that professional investors are staying in the market, but with a stronger focus on regulated and structured exposure. About 66% of institutions now use ETFs or ETPs, while 81% said they prefer regulated investment vehicles. Risk management has also become more central, with 49% reporting a greater focus on controlling portfolio risk.

Custody preferences are also changing. Around 66% of institutions now place regulatory compliance at the center of custody decisions, compared with 25% in earlier responses. The same share now prioritizes security, up from just 8% before. At the same time, 65% said clearer rules would encourage them to invest more, while 66% still view regulatory uncertainty as a major concern.

Market sentiment has cooled slightly, but it remains constructive. The share of investors expecting prices to rise over the next year fell from 79% to 74%. Even so, the survey suggests that institutions continue to view digital assets as part of long-term allocation planning rather than a short-term trade tied only to price momentum.

XRP Gains Attention as Institutions Diversify Beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum

Within this shift, XRP stands out as one of the assets gaining new attention. Coinbase’s survey found that 18% of institutions already held XRP as of January 2026, while 25% said they plan to add it during the year. That places XRP among the leading altcoins being considered alongside assets such as Solana, BNB, TRX, ADA, DOGE, and LINK.

Bitcoin remains the largest institutional holding, with 94% of respondents saying they held it in January 2026. However, only 91% said they plan to maintain or increase that exposure this year. That figure suggests some institutions are broadening their focus beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, with XRP included in that broader diversification trend.

The survey also found that 56% of institutions are expected to hold assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum in 2026. That trend points to growing interest in alternative blockchain networks and use cases. For XRP, the data contributes to a broader discussion about its role in institutional portfolios as investors assess its utility, liquidity, and long-term market positioning.

Stablecoins and Tokenization Expand the Institutional Crypto Focus

The same survey showed that institutions are looking beyond spot crypto holdings. Stablecoins are seeing strong adoption, with 86% of respondents either using them or planning to. Among those institutions, 88% cited instant settlement as a primary use case, while 85% cited cash management.

Interest in decentralized finance is also increasing. About 13% of institutions are already active in DeFi, while 43% plan to enter that segment by 2028. If those plans move forward, total institutional participation in DeFi would reach 56%. Tokenization is drawing significant attention, with 64% of asset managers expressing interest and 62% planning to invest by 2027.

Taken together, the survey data show that institutional participation in crypto is broadening even during a weaker market. XRP’s place in that trend is notable, with one-quarter of surveyed institutions planning to add it in 2026 as the sector moves toward wider diversification and more structured allocation.