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Financial services firms are moving from AI experimentation to execution, and many are now preparing for tokenization as the next structural shift in market infrastructure, according to a new Broadridge study. The report says GenAI is already producing measurable results, while investment in tokenization and digital asset infrastructure is accelerating.
The announcement is based on Broadridge’s 2026 Digital Transformation & Next-Gen Technology Study, which surveyed more than 900 technology and operations leaders across wealth management, capital markets, and asset management.
AI has moved from pilots to production
Broadridge says AI adoption jumped sharply over the past year, with 80% of firms now using generative or predictive AI in operations, up from 31% a year earlier. The company also says AI is now seen as the next-gen technology with the greatest business impact, ahead of cloud.
Investment is following that shift. Broadridge reports that 72% of firms are making moderate to large GenAI investments, while concern about GenAI ROI fell to 33% from 42% last year. It also says 27% of firms now report measurable business benefits from GenAI, up 13 percentage points year over year.
The study also highlights early agentic AI adoption: 26% of firms say they are already using agentic AI, and more than half of those deployments are beyond pilot phase. Adoption is highest among larger institutions, with nearly one-third of firms managing over $250 billion in assets reporting active use.
Tokenization is shifting from concept to infrastructure planning
Broadridge says firms are increasingly treating tokenization as a long-term redesign of market infrastructure, not just a near-term product experiment. In the study, 53% of respondents said distributed ledger technology will have a dramatic effect on how assets are settled.
The report also shows capital commitments are rising: 54% of firms said they are making moderate to large investments in tokenization and digital asset infrastructure. Broadridge frames this as a move beyond exploration and toward buildout.
The study adds that firms expect a meaningful share of major asset classes — including equities, mutual funds, and alternatives — to be tokenized within the next four to five years, and 70% say external partnerships will be critical as tokenized infrastructure develops.
The main bottleneck is execution, not strategy
Broadridge says the biggest challenge is no longer whether firms believe in AI or tokenization, but whether they can execute. The study found 84% of firms see integrated platforms as important, and 43% expect to rebuild core systems to support AI-driven operating models.
Talent is another major constraint. Broadridge says 37% of firms cite lack of skilled talent as a barrier to agentic AI adoption, while 38% cite talent gaps as the biggest barrier to GenAI adoption, up from 28% in 2025. The company also notes that many firms still lack formal AI mandates and targets, despite growing deployment.
Risks are still front and center in tokenization plans
Broadridge says firms see clear benefits from tokenization, including liquidity, operational efficiency, and faster settlement, but they are also flagging real risks. In the survey, 64% cited cybersecurity risks tied to tokenization, while 55% pointed to valuation risk.
At the same time, the company says many firms expect upcoming digital asset regulation to support adoption by improving clarity and market stability. That’s an important signal for crypto infrastructure vendors, custodians, and tokenization platforms targeting traditional financial institutions.
Why it matters for crypto
- Broadridge’s data suggests tokenization is becoming a real budget line for traditional finance, not just a conference theme.
- More institutional spending on tokenization infrastructure can create demand for crypto-native rails, custody, and interoperability tools.
- The study reinforces that regulation and cybersecurity remain the two biggest gating factors for broader tokenized market adoption.
- External partnerships are likely to matter more, which could benefit crypto infrastructure providers that plug into TradFi workflows.
- AI and tokenization are increasingly being planned together as part of a broader market infrastructure rebuild.
What to watch next
- Broadridge’s full 2026 study release for deeper breakdowns by region, segment, and firm size.
- Whether the “moderate to large” tokenization investment share (54%) rises in future surveys.
- New partnerships between TradFi firms and tokenization infrastructure providers, which 70% of respondents expect to need.
- Signs that firms move from tokenization pilots into production issuance, settlement, and fund administration workflows.
- Regulatory developments that reduce uncertainty and accelerate institutional tokenization timelines.