XRP and SWIFT: Doors Open for Collaboration as Ripple-SEC Lawsuit Nears End?
The debate surrounding XRP and global payment system SWIFT has once again exploded, as the lawsuit between Ripple Labs and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is coming to an end. Recent reports suggest that both parties are close to a $50 million settlement, which could pave the way for Ripple to re-enter the global financial arena where SWIFT is a dominant player.
SWIFT and XRP: The intersection of innovation and strategic opportunity
In an increasingly digital financial world, the need to innovate cross-border payments is becoming more urgent. SWIFT, a $155 trillion-a-year payment processing platform, has admitted its obsolescence and is looking to blockchain solutions for speed and reliability.
Alisa DiCaprio, SWIFT’s Chief Interoperability Officer, noted that “users expect international transactions to be processed in minutes, if not seconds.” This is where the XRP Ledger can meet the challenge, with its ability to process over 1,500 transactions per second, low fees, and confirmation times of just seconds.
Ripple and SEC Settlement Signs Hopeful
According to inside sources, Ripple and the SEC have agreed to release $125 million in escrow XRP, in preparation for a fine settlement. In addition, both parties are said to be collaborating under the SEC’s new Digital Asset Task Force, a move that signals a shift in regulatory approach since the departure of Chairman Gary Gensler.
This raises the big question: Is SWIFT preparing to open the way for XRP to join its system?
Collaboration or competition?
In the past, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has claimed that XRP does not need to partner with SWIFT and can replace the system. However, the reality is that Ripple and SWIFT share the global payment standard ISO 20022, a technical intersection that could pave the way for potential collaboration.
August 15, 2025 is a closely watched milestone as the SEC releases its updated case report. Barring additional appeals, Ripple will be free to expand its network of strategic partners, with SWIFT being the most attractive name.
Threat from competitors: Hedera (HBAR)
Meanwhile, Ripple is not the only name that SWIFT has its eyes on. Recently, SWIFT confirmed its integration testing with Hedera’s distributed ledger technology (DLT) (HBAR), a potential competitor with a robust ecosystem, decentralized architecture, and high processing speed.
However, XRP still holds the upper hand when it comes to liquidity, global adoption, and a user community that has been built for over a decade.
Conclusion: A historic opportunity for XRP?
With the legal battle seemingly over and the right technical system in place, Ripple seems to be at a ripe juncture to penetrate deeper into the global financial ecosystem. SWIFT, in its transformation journey, may choose XRP as an ally or continue to experiment with other solutions like HBAR.
The future of cross-border payments is changing, and if all the right conditions converge, XRP could be at the center of that wave of reform.