Key findings:
- Annual survey of 200 buy-side executives shows significant increase in AI adoption compared to the same time last year.
- For the first time in three years, innovation has become the leading driver of technology and operations investments.
- Firms consider vendor stability the top priority when selecting third-party AI solutions for their investment management.
- Belief that private markets and alternative investments are poised for technological innovation has risen sharply over the past 12 months.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- 70 percent of buy-side firms are successfully employing Artificial Intelligence to support their front office, according to a new global study commissioned by SimCorp, a global leader in financial technology.
This finding marks a significant increase from last year's report, which showed only about 10 percent of respondents were actively exploring AI tools. At the time, 75 percent recognized AI's potential, but they still needed guidance on how to integrate it.
These findings, published in the 2026 InvestOps Report, draw on responses from 200 executives at asset managers, pension funds and insurance companies worldwide. The respondents were surveyed by WBR Insights to identify their technology priorities and challenges heading into 2026.
"AI adoption has dramatically shifted from pilots to business-critical applications in the front office," said Peter Sanderson, Chief Executive Officer, SimCorp. "The advancements in AI can deliver the most value for investment professionals to enhance decision-making and efficiency when it is underpinned by a centrally governed and unified data layer."
The new report also finds that consolidating technology vendors and platforms (58%) and modernizing technology architecture and data infrastructure (54%) are the top technology initiatives for buy-side firms - both are essential for scaling AI, automating investment workflows and simplifying tech stacks.
"I'm not surprised to see 58 percent of firms in this survey choosing vendor and platform consolidation as a technology initiative," added Sanderson. "It's the first step toward bringing all their data together so they can have better control, trust their information, see their entire portfolio clearly, and use AI to gain insights."
Innovation overtakes operational efficiency as top strategic technology priority
For the first time in three years, achieving competitive differentiation through innovation (55%) has surpassed operational efficiency (33%) and controlling operating costs (44%) as the leading driver of technology and operations investments for 2026.
With AI adoption maturing across investment managers, vendor stability (57%) ranks as the most important criterion when evaluating AI solutions for their investment management - ahead of features. As proprietary data often flows into AI models, firms require that vendors have robust data governance and cybersecurity in place and are seeking partners capable of supporting these requirements.
The top factors when evaluating AI solutions for investment management were:
- Vendor stability (57%) - Established providers with enterprise support.
- Innovation access (54%) - Early beta features for competitive advantage.
- Analytical flexibility (47%) - Probabilistic outputs for research and insights.
- Proven ROI (45%) - Demonstrated return metrics before scaling deployments.
- Governance framework (40%) - Comprehensive documentation and regulatory alignment.
- Regulatory compliance (35%) - Deterministic, auditable outputs for compliance use cases.
- Investment appetite (24%) - Premium pricing for advanced capabilities.
Looking ahead, respondents ranked AI, generative AI, and advanced analytics (72%) as the area offering the greatest opportunity for technological innovation. Another area poised for innovation is within alternative investments where operational complexity and fragmented data often result in limited automation. Over the past 12 months, the number of respondents who believe private markets & alternative investments offer the greatest opportunity for technological innovation has grown by 24 percentage points, reaching 51 percent in 2026 compared to 27 percent in 2025.
As private market allocations continue to rise, firms that invest in best-in-class technology capabilities for alternatives can gain operational leverage through higher straight-through processing rates, allowing them to focus on evaluating the best investment opportunities rather than manual reconciliations.
To that end, SimCorp launched SimCorp Alternatives last year, a comprehensive offering designed to serve the needs of all alternative investment firms. It builds on SimCorp's existing alternatives offering, already trusted by some of the world's largest asset owners.
To learn more about the findings of the 2026 InvestOps Report and to access the full report, click here.
Survey methodology
The 2026 Global InvestOps Report surveyed 200 senior executives and operations leaders from asset managers, insurers, and pension funds across North America, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific, each managing at least USD 10 billion in AUM. Respondents included C-suite representatives and other senior leaders. The survey was conducted by WBR Insights, an independent research firm.
About SimCorp
SimCorp is a provider of industry-leading integrated investment management solutions for the global buy side.
Founded in 1971, with more than 3,500 employees across five continents, SimCorp is a truly global technology leader that empowers more than half of the world's top 100 financial companies through its integrated platform, services, and partner ecosystem.
The Axioma analytics suite provides comprehensive factor risk models, multi-asset enterprise risk management, portfolio construction, and regulatory reporting solutions. SimCorp is a subsidiary of Deutsche Börse Group.
For more information, please visit www.simcorp.com
Media Contact: Søren Rathlou Top, Global PR Manager at SimCorp, +45 31 15 87 06, Srat@simcorp.com
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
More than two-thirds of investment managers prominently using AI to support front office, SimCorp study reveals
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DUBAI, UAE, June 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Vietnam's responsible digital asset development following a high-level meeting between Ben Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Bybit, and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng at the Government Headquarters in Hanoi.
The meeting marks the second official engagement between Bybit and Vietnamese authorities within the past year, reflecting continued dialogue as Vietnam advances its regulatory framework for digital assets and virtual asset markets.
The discussions followed the Government's issuance of Resolution No. 05/2025/NQ-CP, which established a pilot framework for the country's crypto-asset market. During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng emphasized Vietnam's balanced regulatory approach toward digital assets — recognizing the sector's innovation and economic potential while underscoring the importance of investor protection, anti-money laundering safeguards, anti-fraud measures, and transparent market supervision aligned with international standards.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that Vietnam is actively seeking cooperation with reputable international industry participants to support the development of legal frameworks, supervisory systems, transaction monitoring capabilities, technology infrastructure, and talent training necessary for the safe implementation of the pilot program.
Vietnam also reiterated that participation in the pilot market will be subject to stringent requirements covering capital adequacy, operational track record, technological capability, cybersecurity standards, and international compliance experience.
Ben Zhou welcomed Vietnam's progress in establishing a structured legal framework for digital assets and reaffirmed Bybit's long-term commitment to regulatory collaboration and responsible market development.
"Vietnam is taking a forward-looking and measured approach toward digital asset innovation by prioritizing transparency, investor protection, and regulatory readiness from the beginning," said Ben. "At Bybit, we believe the future of the digital asset industry depends on close collaboration with regulators and institutions. We are honored to continue supporting Vietnam through international best-practice sharing, institutional capacity building, compliance expertise, and talent development as the country builds a secure and globally competitive digital asset ecosystem."
Bybit also reiterated its readiness to collaborate with Vietnamese stakeholders and local partners in areas including market surveillance, operational governance, risk management frameworks, and workforce training.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng expressed his expectation that Bybit could become a trusted partner to Vietnamese regulatory agencies during the pilot phase, contributing to the development of a healthy, transparent, and efficient crypto-asset market that balances the interests of the State, investors, and the broader public.
The meeting reflects Vietnam's accelerating efforts to establish a controlled and internationally aligned regulatory framework for digital assets as the country positions itself as one of Southeast Asia's emerging digital innovation hubs.
#Bybit / #NewFinancialPlatform
About Bybit
Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 80 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.
For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media
Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube
DUBAI, UAE, June 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Vietnam's responsible digital asset development following a high-level meeting between Ben Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Bybit, and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng at the Government Headquarters in Hanoi.
The meeting marks the second official engagement between Bybit and Vietnamese authorities within the past year, reflecting continued dialogue as Vietnam advances its regulatory framework for digital assets and virtual asset markets.
The discussions followed the Government's issuance of Resolution No. 05/2025/NQ-CP, which established a pilot framework for the country's crypto-asset market. During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng emphasized Vietnam's balanced regulatory approach toward digital assets — recognizing the sector's innovation and economic potential while underscoring the importance of investor protection, anti-money laundering safeguards, anti-fraud measures, and transparent market supervision aligned with international standards.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that Vietnam is actively seeking cooperation with reputable international industry participants to support the development of legal frameworks, supervisory systems, transaction monitoring capabilities, technology infrastructure, and talent training necessary for the safe implementation of the pilot program.
Vietnam also reiterated that participation in the pilot market will be subject to stringent requirements covering capital adequacy, operational track record, technological capability, cybersecurity standards, and international compliance experience.
Ben Zhou welcomed Vietnam's progress in establishing a structured legal framework for digital assets and reaffirmed Bybit's long-term commitment to regulatory collaboration and responsible market development.
"Vietnam is taking a forward-looking and measured approach toward digital asset innovation by prioritizing transparency, investor protection, and regulatory readiness from the beginning," said Ben. "At Bybit, we believe the future of the digital asset industry depends on close collaboration with regulators and institutions. We are honored to continue supporting Vietnam through international best-practice sharing, institutional capacity building, compliance expertise, and talent development as the country builds a secure and globally competitive digital asset ecosystem."
Bybit also reiterated its readiness to collaborate with Vietnamese stakeholders and local partners in areas including market surveillance, operational governance, risk management frameworks, and workforce training.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng expressed his expectation that Bybit could become a trusted partner to Vietnamese regulatory agencies during the pilot phase, contributing to the development of a healthy, transparent, and efficient crypto-asset market that balances the interests of the State, investors, and the broader public.
The meeting reflects Vietnam's accelerating efforts to establish a controlled and internationally aligned regulatory framework for digital assets as the country positions itself as one of Southeast Asia's emerging digital innovation hubs.
#Bybit / #NewFinancialPlatform
About Bybit
Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 80 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.
For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media
Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Bybit Deepens Regulatory Engagement with Vietnam Following High-Level Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister
