Payments Giant Swift Guards Speed Record With a Bet on Blockchain

Core Insights - The traditional payment system, exemplified by wire transfers, is being challenged by blockchain solutions like stablecoins, prompting payment processors to modernize their transaction handling [1][5] - Swift, a global payments leader, is proactively developing a blockchain to facilitate instant transactions worldwide, moving away from the current one to five business days processing time [2][4] - Swift is collaborating with over 30 financial institutions, including major banks like Bank of America and Citigroup, to create a digital ledger using a prototype from blockchain company Consensys [3] Industry Developments - Swift processes transactions for over 11,500 institutions across more than 200 countries, highlighting its significant influence in the global economy [4] - The rise of stablecoins is prompting traditional financial institutions to reconsider their transaction timelines, with McKinsey labeling stablecoins as a direct challenge to conventional payment systems [5] - Citi projects that by 2030, annual trading of stablecoins could reach $100 trillion, indicating a substantial shift in the financial landscape [5] Institutional Movements - A consortium of U.S. banks, including JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, is exploring the launch of a stablecoin, while EU banks like ING and UniCredit are working on a euro-backed stablecoin [7] - JPMorgan Chase has developed blockchain-adjacent solutions, including a private digital ledger and a deposit token that functions similarly to a stablecoin but is exclusive to its clients [7]