In a recent post on X, crypto researcher SMQKE has drawn attention to a section of an academic paper that identifies Ripple as the blockchain foundation for American Express’s instant payment system.
The document, published online in February 2023, discusses how blockchain is reshaping the financial sector and names several institutional examples. Within that discussion, it explicitly refers to “the American Express instant blockchain-based payment system, which was developed on the Ripple platform.”
The excerpt attached by SMQKE presents blockchain as a transformative force within finance, healthcare, education, and other industries, emphasizing its ability to deliver fast, secure, and transparent data transactions at reduced cost.
It cites the Interbank Information Network, led by J.P. Morgan, Australia–New Zealand Banking Group, and the Royal Bank of Canada, as one of the largest blockchain networks in operation. The mention of American Express’s system appears immediately after, identifying it as a frequently used blockchain payment application built upon Ripple’s distributed ledger technology.
Ripple developed a blockchain-based platform that is “frequently used” by American Express.
See for yourself.
https://t.co/Aq7FXU9Kh0pic.twitter.com/tgZumIfvf6
— SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) October 13, 2025
Implications of the Document
The document offers more than speculation; it provides a verified academic acknowledgment of Ripple’s practical integration within the financial industry. It indicates that American Express utilized Ripple’s blockchain infrastructure to enable instant payments, confirming the platform’s use in mainstream economic systems.
The academic citation carries weight, as peer-reviewed works undergo rigorous evaluation before publication, suggesting the information originated from verifiable sources available at the time of writing.
The excerpt also notes that Ripple functions as a distributed ledger incorporating servers and crypto tokens known as XRP. This description aligns with Ripple’s established framework, where transactions are validated across a decentralized network to achieve high-speed settlement. The academic context reinforces Ripple’s status as a technology provider that has contributed to tangible blockchain applications within the global banking ecosystem.
Broader Context in Financial Technology
Blockchain adoption among major financial institutions has accelerated as firms seek faster and more cost-effective solutions for cross-border settlements. By citing both the Interbank Information Network and the American Express–Ripple collaboration, the publication cites these initiatives as leading examples of blockchain integration in finance.
These cases demonstrate that blockchain technology has moved beyond experimental stages and into real-world payment operations among globally recognized institutions.
Although the excerpt does not elaborate on current transaction volumes or the operational scale of American Express’s use of Ripple, the acknowledgment alone substantiates that such an implementation occurred and was actively recognized in academic literature. It further supports the view that Ripple’s infrastructure has played a direct role in enhancing payment efficiency within major financial networks.
SMQKE’s post is grounded in documented academic evidence that American Express developed an instant blockchain-based payment system on Ripple’s platform. The source not only verifies Ripple’s involvement but also highlights its integration into the practical operations of a global payments leader.