Ripple Study Reveals Institutions Seek Governance in Custody Solutions

A Boston Consulting Group report commissioned by Ripple indicates that institutional custody buyers are increasingly prioritizing governance, interoperability, and operational integration alongside asset security. The report emphasizes that security is now a baseline requirement for banks and investment firms when evaluating digital asset providers. It highlights the importance of policy controls, interoperability, and the ability to connect custody with settlement, payments, and treasury systems. BCG estimates that over 30% of digital assets outside centralized exchanges are held through institutional custody models, based on commissioned research rather than direct market observations. This shift is significant for stablecoins and tokenized securities, as institutions may find technically secure wallets inadequate if they lack approval procedures, reporting, or compatibility with existing systems. Some firms may opt for multiple custodians with a shared orchestration layer, while others may prefer integrated services. Although Ripple has a commercial interest in custody infrastructure, the report raises relevant questions for the entire industry regarding the ideal custody model that maintains conventional institutional controls while preserving the settlement advantages of blockchain.