Blockchain Pulse Survey 2026
We have just released the new Blockchain Pulse Survey 2026, which is now available for download in English and German. The latest edition paints the picture of a market defined by conviction without urgency: Swiss financial institutions remain firmly convinced of blockchain's long-term relevance, but short-term ambition has cooled noticeably and scaling remains selective.
Between 18 June and 28 August 2026, 25 financial institutions in Switzerland and Liechtenstein took part in the survey, comprising 11 retail banks, 10 private banks, three specialised B2B providers and one universal bank. 64% of respondents still attribute high long-term potential to blockchain, unchanged from 2025, though the near-term outlook has become considerably more cautious.
Key takeaways from the 2026 survey
- Conviction remains, urgency fades: 64% of institutions see high long-term potential in blockchain, matching 2025 levels, yet only 20% expect this to materialise in the short term, while 52% now rate its short-term potential as low.
- Crypto is the established core, tokenisation and stablecoins lag behind expectations: 68% of institutions already offer crypto services, with custody and trading each live at 64%. Tokenisation and stablecoin/settlement remain the exception: 64% and 60% of institutions respectively report no plans to launch such an offering, despite 80% naming stablecoins/CBDCs as the leading market trend.
- Commercial ambition meets a widening gap: 87% cite growth, client acquisition or retention as their main driver, up sharply from 56% in 2025, yet 63% point to a lack of strategic prioritisation or business case, 58% to low customer interest, and 46% to regulatory or compliance requirements as obstacles to scaling.
- Regulatory clarity is still pending, sourcing leans on partners: Only 12% of institutions view Switzerland's evolving regulatory framework positively, and 36% consider it too early to judge. Meanwhile, 97% of planned service configurations involve external partners, keeping integration, risk oversight and provider management as key capabilities banks must hold in-house.
The study is a joint initiative by the Center for Financial Services Innovation at the University of St. Gallen, ACK, mintminds, PwC and vision&.
Download the full report
Die Blockchain Pulsmesser Studie 2025 ist auch auf Deutsch verfügbar: