TLDR
- Ripple aims to capture 20% of SWIFT’s $150 trillion annual transaction volume, which would mean $30 trillion flowing through XRP Ledger yearly
- Previous projections targeted 14% of SWIFT’s volume within five years, equaling $21 trillion annually
- SWIFT critic Vincent Van Code suggests SWIFT may adopt XRP and Ripple as an alternate settlement layer for interbank payments
- XRP Ledger offers near-instant settlement and low transaction fees compared to SWIFT’s slow and costly system
- SWIFT has shown openness to blockchain technology, testing blockchain interoperability with Chainlink in 2022
Ripple Labs is raising its sights in the race to transform global payments. The company now believes XRP could process 20% of SWIFT’s massive transaction volume.
This new target represents $30 trillion in annual value flowing through the XRP Ledger. SWIFT currently handles $150 trillion in cross-border transactions each year.
The updated projection comes from technologist Paul Barron’s recent analysis. His report shows growing confidence in XRP’s ability to compete with traditional payment systems.
🔥Update: Last month, Garlinghouse and @Ripple predicted that $XRP could process up to 14% of SWIFT's total volume within five years – new predictions are pointing to 20%
💰💰Estimated SWIFT's actual annual transaction volume to be approximately $150 trillion. Using this more… pic.twitter.com/rfq2aXBBfh
— PaulBarron (@paulbarron) July 10, 2025
Just last month, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse predicted a more modest 14% share. That would still mean $21 trillion annually through XRP within five years.
SWIFT serves as the backbone of international banking. Over 11,000 financial institutions use its messaging network for payment instructions.
Rising Institutional Interest
The payment giant faces criticism for slow settlement times and high costs. Banks often wait days for transactions to clear through the legacy system.
XRP Ledger promises near-instant settlement at minimal cost. These advantages make it attractive for institutions seeking efficiency improvements.
Vincent Van Code, a blockchain advocate, made waves with recent comments. He suggested SWIFT might announce plans to use XRP and Ripple technology.
This would mark a dramatic shift in the payments landscape. SWIFT and Ripple have competed for years to modernize cross-border transactions.
Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity solution eliminates costly nostro/vostro accounts. Banks can free up capital previously locked in these pre-funded accounts.
Blockchain Integration Progress
SWIFT has taken steps toward blockchain adoption despite the rivalry. The organization tested blockchain interoperability with Chainlink in 2022.
Ripple has acknowledged past conversations with SWIFT about potential collaboration. The company maintains partnerships with central banks worldwide.
A SWIFT-Ripple partnership would represent unprecedented acceptance of digital assets. Traditional finance has been slow to embrace decentralized technologies.
XRP currently trades at $2.78 as market participants watch these developments. The token’s value could see upward pressure if adoption predictions materialize.
Ripple continues positioning itself as the modern alternative to SWIFT’s infrastructure. The company emphasizes speed, cost savings, and scalability advantages.