SWIFT Connects Conventional Finance and Blockchain with 2025 Enhancement

The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) has announced a new initiative to integrate blockchain technology, which is scheduled to be implemented in November 2025. This marks a significant evolution in the global financial system SWIFT Goes On-Chain: Breaking Down the 2025 [ 1 ]. With this enhancement, SWIFT’s messaging platform will be able to accommodate blockchain-based payment functionalities, such as digital ledger identifiers (DLIs) and digital token identifiers (DTIs), enabling financial institutions to settle tokenized assets directly on distributed ledger technology (DLT) platforms SWIFT Goes On-Chain: Breaking Down the 2025 [ 1 ]. The update will apply to both the traditional MT messages and the modern MX (ISO 20022) format, maintaining compatibility with older systems while embedding blockchain features into essential processes SWIFT Goes On-Chain: Breaking Down the 2025 [ 1 ].

This integration is part of SWIFT’s larger plan to connect conventional finance with decentralized networks, utilizing utility blockchains like the

Ledger and Hashgraph. The XRP Ledger, recognized for its fast and affordable cross-border payments, is already being used by institutions such as Santander and SBI for practical applications SWIFT Goes On-Chain: Breaking Down the 2025 [ 1 ]. Likewise, Hedera, supported by organizations like Google, IBM, and Standard Bank, delivers enterprise-level solutions with high efficiency and low energy consumption, making it suitable for tokenized carbon credits and microtransactions SWIFT Goes On-Chain: Breaking Down the 2025 [ 1 ]. Both platforms comply with ISO 20022 standards, ensuring smooth integration with SWIFT’s messaging infrastructure SWIFT Goes On-Chain: Breaking Down the 2025 [ 1 ].

SWIFT is also working with Ethereum’s Layer 2 network,

, to pilot on-chain settlements using a stablecoin-like asset. This trial, which includes banks such as BNP Paribas and BNY Mellon, is designed to test direct value transfers over blockchain, minimizing the need for intermediaries and making cross-border payments more efficient Global Banking Giant SWIFT Ignites Mainstream Adoption With News [ 2 ]. Linea’s zk-rollup solution delivers secure, low-cost transactions, addressing key compliance and privacy requirements for institutional users Global Banking Giant SWIFT Ignites Mainstream Adoption With News [ 2 ]. Previous collaborations between SWIFT and Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) have also shown the feasibility of secure data transfers between traditional and decentralized financial systems SWIFT Chainlink Integration Set for November 2025: From Pilot to Live Deployment [ 3 ].

The November 2025 deployment will move these innovations from experimental pilots to full-scale use by financial institutions. Notable advancements include linking blockchain wallet addresses to payment instructions, incorporating smart contract oracles for adaptive fee management, and enabling settlement of tokenized assets across both banking and blockchain environments SWIFT Chainlink Integration Set for November 2025: From Pilot to Live Deployment [ 3 ]. This transformation will facilitate the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), such as digital stocks and bonds, by offering a secure and interoperable framework for global financial players SWIFT Chainlink Integration Set for November 2025: From Pilot to Live Deployment [ 3 ].

SWIFT’s move to adopt blockchain is part of a wider trend towards programmable finance and digital public infrastructure (DPI). Central banks and financial organizations are increasingly investigating CBDCs and tokenized securities, with SWIFT’s enhancements making direct connections between legacy and DLT systems possible SWIFT Goes On-Chain: Breaking Down the 2025 [ 1 ]. Examples like India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Australia’s collaborative payment platforms illustrate how DPI is transforming global capital movement SWIFT Goes On-Chain: Breaking Down the 2025 [ 1 ].

Industry analysts believe that the November 2025 changes will speed up the mainstream adoption of tokenized financial products, especially as companies like BlackRock begin to tokenize parts of their $21.6 trillion in assets SWIFT Goes On-Chain: Breaking Down the 2025 [ 1 ]. Platforms that can manage on-chain asset ownership and provide transparent audit trails are expected to lead the next era of digital finance, with SWIFT’s standards helping to unify the market and support large-scale growth SWIFT Goes On-Chain: Breaking Down the 2025 [ 1 ].