For years, SWIFT has acted as the backbone of global cross-border payments, connecting thousands of financial institutions worldwide. At the same time, blockchain-based platforms have risen to challenge the inefficiencies in that system.
Ripple, which has positioned XRP as a fast and cost-effective payment rail, is often viewed as a potential replacement for SWIFT. However, as crypto researcher SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) pointed out, the relationship is more complex. In a post on X, he noted that digging deeper reveals that Ripple works with SWIFT.
The potential overlap between the two systems shows that Ripple is not only competing with SWIFT but also interacting with it. Despite SWIFT’s recent launch of an Ethereum-based blockchain settlement system, SMQKE believes all blockchains will be integrated, and SWIFT isn’t picking sides.
SWIFT’s infrastructure already supports connectivity with different blockchains, and integrating the XRP Ledger (XRPL) would help the adaptability of both platforms as institutions transition from older frameworks to digital asset-based systems.
Yes, Ripple is fully part of the networks SWIFT is designed to link with.
While Ripple has been successful as a blockchain-based payment rail, “if you do a bit of digging, you sometimes find that [it] still work[s] with SWIFT.”
SWIFT’s infrastructure allows financial… https://t.co/tKNb0PT7sQpic.twitter.com/GwZMfiO0Nc
— SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) September 29, 2025
Why This Benefits Ripple and XRP
Rather than being restricted to one path, Ripple’s involvement within SWIFT’s ecosystem helps expand its reach. Financial institutions can access Ripple’s XRP-powered payment system without abandoning the systems they have used for decades. This practical arrangement creates an environment where XRP can be used alongside traditional banking rails, gradually increasing its adoption and relevance.
At the same time, Ripple offers speed and cost efficiency through XRP, and SWIFT cannot easily match the digital asset’s capabilities. This incentives banks and payment providers to expand usage of Ripple’s solutions, even if they continue to maintain SWIFT connections, and shows why Ripple has partnerships with over 300 banks across the globe.
We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1
— TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025
Replacement Potential Over Time
The reality that Ripple is already part of the networks connected by SWIFT should not be seen as a limitation. Instead, it represents a stepping stone toward broader usage of XRP in global payments. Institutions are conservative when it comes to adopting new systems, so integration with SWIFT makes XRP less disruptive to adopt.
Over time, the efficiency of Ripple’s solutions positions it to take a larger share of transactions that currently flow through SWIFT. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has predicted that XRP could capture 14% of SWIFT’s volume within 5 years, and this gradual process increases the chances of XRP emerging as the dominant option in cross-border settlements.
By working within SWIFT’s framework today, Ripple ensures that XRP remains a viable choice tomorrow when banks look to cut costs and improve transaction speeds at scale.