Researcher Says Thinking SWIFT Is an XRP Killer Is Hilarious

A widely followed XRP researcher has dismissed claims that SWIFT’s new blockchain ledger threatens XRP.

The view argues that the token’s value extends far beyond simply competing with banks. For context, global payments giant SWIFT unveiled plans earlier this week for a blockchain-based shared ledger backed by more than 30 major banks, including JPMorgan and Santander.

The initiative, developed in collaboration with Consensys, aims to create a real-time transaction log that can interoperate with both fiat and digital assets.

His remarks reflect the view among XRP supporters that Ripple’s vision was never limited to direct competition with SWIFT. Instead, it included building liquidity solutions, remittance rails, and broader ecosystem use cases.

Why XRP Doesn’t Need to Replace SWIFT

Analysts argue that XRP’s value proposition extends far beyond replacing SWIFT’s infrastructure. These are some of the areas the token shines:

Retail Remittances: XRP is already used in migrant-heavy markets such as the Philippines and Mexico to reduce settlement times and costs. Platforms like goLance have confirmed they use XRP for freelancer payments in underserved markets.

Corporate Solutions: Small and mid-sized firms rely on efficient cross-border settlement. For instance, Japan’s SBI has already rolled out XRP-based remittances across Southeast Asia.

XRPL Ecosystem: The growth of decentralized exchanges, automated market makers, DeFi staking, and tokenization on the XRPL continues to expand XRP’s utility, regardless of bank adoption.

Digital Economy: XRP’s low fees and fast speeds make it a good fit for things like streaming, gaming, and smart devices that need quick, small payments.

Essentially, while Ripple executives have long positioned XRP as a faster and cheaper alternative to SWIFT, that narrative now faces headwinds due to SWIFT’s new blockchain ambitions. Yet, XRP’s alternative paths may prove just as significant.

As transaction fees gradually burn supply and the XRPL ecosystem grows, XRP continues to thrive in areas where traditional banking systems remain slow or costly.

Community Reactions

Meanwhile, community members responding to Anderson’s post also shared their perspectives. One commenter argued that the truly laughable claim was XRP’s original ambition of becoming a “SWIFT killer.”

This view resonated with many who believe XRP holders were misled into thinking it would replace traditional banks.

Critics said this belief was both unrealistic and overconfident, pointing out that major banks wouldn’t simply hand over control to a new player. Instead, they could improve their own systems or create their own blockchains to achieve faster transactions.