XRP News Today: SWIFT Tests XRP, but Will Banks Replace Its Own Rails?

Ripple's XRP continues to draw attention as a potential solution for efficient cross-border payments, with growing speculation on its role in the future of global financial infrastructure. The digital asset has long been positioned as a bridge currency for remittances, aiming to streamline international transfers by eliminating the need for pre-funded accounts and reducing costs. This week, new developments suggest XRP may be gaining traction in the financial sector, with SWIFT—operator of the messaging network that underpins most interbank transactions—reporting ongoing live trials with Ripple’s XRP Ledger.

The trials, which also involve Hedera Hashgraph, are part of SWIFT’s broader push to modernize cross-border payments under the ISO 20022 messaging standard, set to become mandatory in 2025. Ripple’s XRP Ledger, known for its ability to settle transactions in seconds with minimal fees, offers a compelling alternative to the current multi-bank, multi-day SWIFT process. If just 1% of SWIFT’s $150 trillion in annual transactions were to be processed via XRP, analysts estimate this could generate $1.5 trillion in demand for the asset, a significant leap from its current daily trading volumes [1].

However, not all industry leaders are convinced of XRP’s potential. SWIFT’s Chief Innovation Officer, Tom Zschach, recently dismissed the idea that a single crypto network could replace SWIFT, emphasizing the importance of governance, legal enforceability, and neutrality in global finance. Zschach argued that institutions require a trusted infrastructure and cannot afford to rely on systems controlled by a single entity. In his view, the future lies in convergence rather than replacement—where SWIFT and blockchain-based solutions like XRP coexist and complement each other [4].

Ripple, for its part, has been actively expanding its footprint in the banking sector. Over 100 financial institutions are currently using RippleNet, with at least a dozen piloting or deploying On-Demand Liquidity (ODL), Ripple’s XRP-based solution for instant cross-border payments. Key partners include SBI Remit, Santander, and Bank of America, which have all shown varying degrees of engagement with Ripple’s technology. Ripple has also launched its own regulated stablecoin, RLUSD, as part of a broader strategy to align with regulatory requirements and expand its use cases [3].

The recent acquisition of Rail, a stablecoin payment company, for $200 million, has further signaled Ripple’s ambition to position itself at the forefront of the stablecoin boom. Citigroup has projected that the global stablecoin market could reach $3.7 trillion by 2030, and Ripple’s integration of Rail’s technology aims to make stablecoins more accessible and efficient for institutional users. However, some analysts caution that this pivot could undermine XRP’s core use case, particularly if stablecoins increasingly replace XRP as the preferred bridge asset in ODL transactions [2].

Despite these challenges, the XRP community remains bullish. Experts like Paul Barron have projected that XRP could reach $50 or even triple digits if key catalysts—such as spot crypto ETF approvals, favorable regulatory developments, and major partnerships—materialize. These forecasts, however, remain speculative and subject to the volatile nature of the crypto market. As one XRP holder, who holds over 90% of his portfolio in the token, noted, the journey is likely to involve significant price swings and corrections [1].

In the coming years, the success of XRP will hinge on its ability to maintain relevance in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. While Ripple’s ODL platform has already processed billions in value since its launch, widespread adoption by major banks remains limited. With regulatory clarity and technological innovation continuing to shape the cross-border payment sector, XRP’s role as a neutral liquidity tool will be closely watched by both institutional players and crypto enthusiasts alike.

Source:

[1] XRP Price Prediction: Is Triple-Digit Target Incoming? (https://coinpedia.org/news/xrp-price-prediction-is-triple-digit-target-incoming/)

[2] Ripple's $200 Million Stablecoin Bet: Can It Push XRP's ... (https://www.aol.com/ripples-200-million-stablecoin-bet-150700381.html)

[3] XRP: What Banks Use It in 2024? (https://www.bitget.com/wiki/xrp-what-banks-use-it)

[4] SWIFT CIO Claims Banks Will Skip XRP, Favor Internal ... (https://www.fxleaders.com/news/2025/09/04/swift-cio-claims-banks-will-skip-xrp-favor-internal-rails-stablecoins/)

[5] SWIFT's Ripple Trial May Move XRP To Center of Global ... (https://www.ccn.com/news/crypto/swifts-ripple-trial-turn-xrp-backbone-global-payments/)