In this American Banker exclusive, we surveyed leaders across U.S. banks and credit unions to reveal how institutions are actually evaluating on-chain technology and digital assets—beyond the hype and pilot announcements. The research uncovers where adoption stands today, what value banks expect in the next 12–24 months versus the next 3–5 years, and which use cases are emerging as real priorities across consumer, small business and commercial segments. We also examine how organizations are structuring ownership of digital-asset strategy, what’s accelerating decision-making internally, and what’s still holding institutions back—from regulatory uncertainty and risk concerns to the growing pressure of competitors moving first. The result is a clear benchmark of where the market is leaning, why certain “lanes” are gaining momentum, and how financial institutions are positioning now for what could become the next foundational layer of money movement.
