Ripple pushes tokenization and AI to boost institutional crypto adoption amid regulatory challenges

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse highlighted the company's focus on tokenization and AI to enhance institutional adoption of crypto at Consensus 2026. Ripple aims to improve settlement efficiency, liquidity access, and financial infrastructure through multi-chain interoperability, moving beyond just cross-border payments. However, regulatory uncertainty, especially around SEC enforcement, remains a major hurdle for broader institutional participation. Rising Bitcoin ETF inflows and demand for regulated blockchain systems underscore the need for clearer compliance frameworks to unlock deeper capital deployment in tokenized finance.