The global financial system is about to undergo a major infrastructure shift. SWIFT, the organization behind $150 trillion in annual cross-border payments, has confirmed its integration with blockchain. On November 22, 2025, the update will go live, enabling support for blockchain-native payment features. These changes move blockchain from experimentation into everyday institutional workflows.
This article explores the official documentation, the role of utility networks like XRPL and Hedera Hashgraph, and how institutions like BlackRock and SWIFT are preparing for tokenized finance. If you’re invested in real-world adoption of crypto infrastructure, now is the time to pay attention.
🚨 BREAKING: SWIFT CONFIRMS CRYPTO GOES LIVE 11/2025
— King Solomon (@IOV_OWL) May 12, 2025
SWIFT processes $150T+/yr.
✅ Settlement Place = DLT Wallet
✅ Cash Account = DLT Wallet
✅ Network Fees = Gas
✅ Oracles = Trusted Pricing
✅ UTI = Tokenized Tx Sequencing
Implications for $XRP / $HBAR & Utility Networks pic.twitter.com/Fdbvg4tGWk
From Theory to Global Integration
SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) facilitates secure messaging for over 11,000 financial institutions across 200+ countries. It manages $150 trillion in annual transactions. Historically, it has used MT (Message Type) messages. However, in 2025, it transitions fully to ISO 20022’s MX format. Both formats are being upgraded in parallel to support blockchain use.
The November 2025 release includes support for blockchain wallet addresses, smart contract oracles, and tokenized asset fields. The documentation specifically names support for Digital Ledger Identifiers (DLIs) and Digital Token Identifiers (DTIs). These changes allow financial messages to interact directly with distributed ledger infrastructure. Notably, CBDCs (Central Bank Digital Currencies) and crypto wallets can now be included as valid cash account endpoints in payment messages.
SWIFT confirmed that this upgrade applies to both legacy MT messages and the newer MX (ISO 20022) standard. This ensures backward compatibility while laying a foundation for programmable finance. It also enables nonce tracking for blockchain-native sequencing, which supports on-chain ordering of digital asset transfers. As a result, blockchain features will become embedded within the core workflows of global financial institutions.
Utility Chains Ready for Prime Time
The infrastructure upgrade directly supports compliant, utility-driven networks. This includes the XRP Ledger, which Ripple uses to facilitate liquidity and bridge assets for global payments. RippleNet, Ripple’s financial network, already integrates with institutions like Santander and SBI. The XRP Ledger processes cross-border transactions in seconds, with negligible fees and built-in features like on-chain escrow and payment channels.
Similarly, Hedera provides enterprise-grade infrastructure with high throughput and low energy consumption. The Hedera Council includes Google, IBM, Dell, and Standard Bank. Hedera’s services include tokenization, decentralized identity, and ESG data verification. These capabilities align with growing institutional demands for transparency and auditability. As of 2024, Hedera has supported tokenized carbon credits, verifiable credentials, and micropayment use cases in regions like Australia.
Both networks align with ISO 20022 standards via ecosystem platforms and services. While the base assets (XRP and HBAR) are not ISO-certified, their surrounding infrastructures are compliant. This alignment enables frictionless integration with SWIFT’s messaging infrastructure. As adoption accelerates, institutions will look for proven networks. That favors chains that have been tested in real-world environments.
Inside the 2025 SWIFT Standards Releases
The details of the upcoming SWIFT integration come from two documents: the MX November 2025 Release (26 pages) and the MT 2025 Release (7 pages). These documents confirm that blockchain-native constructs are no longer pilot programs. They are being implemented into global production infrastructure.
For example, SWIFT’s MT Field 97a (cash account) has a 35-character limit. That format is being updated to support longer blockchain wallet addresses. SWIFT notes that traditional account identifiers no longer suffice for assets like CBDCs. These changes allow payment instructions to include smart contract data, wallet IDs, and sequencing mechanisms native to blockchain.
In the MX release, updates enable network fees and tokenization metadata to be passed between institutions. The system will now accept pricing from trusted smart contract oracles. This enables dynamic fee structures and supports the automation of complex financial contracts. These changes will help institutions reduce reconciliation errors, lower friction, and automate settlements.
Institutions using SWIFT can find the updates on the SWIFT Knowledge Centre under 2025 documentation. The rollout began in 2022 with phased adoption and becomes mandatory in November 2025. At that point, blockchain functionality becomes a standard part of SWIFT messaging.
Connecting the Dots at HederaCon
In early 2025, SWIFT’s involvement at HederaCon provided additional clarity. Alisa DiCaprio, Head of Industry Engagement for SWIFT Americas, spoke on a panel about digital infrastructure. She formerly served as Chief Economist at R3, a consortium known for its enterprise blockchain platform, Corda. DiCaprio now leads engagement efforts with the IMF, World Bank, and other institutions.
At HederaCon, she discussed how digital public infrastructure (DPI) is reshaping financial networks. She noted the complexity of stablecoins and the need for interoperability. DiCaprio emphasized that public institutions now play a greater role in building payment rails—something historically left to the private sector.
Rob Allen, affiliated with Australia Payments Plus, also joined the panel. He confirmed recent conversations with the SWIFT team regarding integration trials. Allen noted that Australian entities like EFTPOS had previously run proofs-of-concept with Hedera around micropayments. Today, Australia Payments Plus sits on the Hedera Governing Council and represents one of the most advanced public-private payment systems globally.
Together, these statements point to growing institutional alignment between legacy finance and blockchain infrastructure. While no direct Hedera–SWIFT integration has been announced, the proximity and alignment of goals are clear.
DPI: The Institutional Framework for Blockchain
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) refers to the foundational systems that support digital payments, identity, and data exchange at the national or global level. DPI includes elements like real-time payment systems, digital ID standards, and tokenization protocols. Many countries are now advancing DPI frameworks through collaboration with international bodies like the World Bank and IMF.
SWIFT’s inclusion of CBDCs and wallet-level data reflects DPI principles. These updates allow central banks to interact directly with blockchain networks. The modular nature of DPI makes it suitable for public-private partnerships. In India, for example, DPI supports the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), now used by over 300 million people for real-time payments.
By extending SWIFT’s messaging system to include wallet addresses and tokenized instruments, traditional finance institutions gain a DPI-compatible interface. As more governments explore CBDC pilots and tokenized bonds, these new formats will play a key role in ensuring compliance, settlement efficiency, and data integrity.
Tokenizing the World’s Largest Portfolios
BlackRock’s growing involvement in tokenization shows how quickly institutional finance is evolving. In May 2025, BlackRock filed a meeting request with the SEC Crypto Task Force. The agenda included staking frameworks, tokenization of traditional securities, and crypto-based exchange-traded products (ETPs).
BlackRock’s digital asset strategy includes the iShares Bitcoin and Ethereum Trusts (IBIT and ETHA). More importantly, the firm operates the Aladdin platform, which manages over $21.6 trillion in assets for institutional clients. As of its last disclosure, Aladdin served 240 clients, with one-third accounting for the full AUM figure.
Aladdin also integrates with Coinbase Custody, providing compliant digital asset storage. The possibility of tokenizing even 10% of those assets would unlock over $2 trillion in on-chain value. This figure dwarfs the current total value locked (TVL) across all DeFi platforms.
The scale of BlackRock’s operations, combined with its regulatory engagement, shows that tokenized securities are no longer a theory. They are part of an ongoing shift in capital markets infrastructure. Platforms capable of supporting on-chain ownership, audit trails, and secure custody will lead the next phase of digital finance.
Real Adoption, Not Hype
The November 2025 integration marks a clear transition. Blockchain infrastructure will no longer exist outside the banking system—it will operate within it. Payment messages can now contain wallet addresses, reference smart contracts, and settle tokenized assets. These features are no longer limited to pilot programs. They are embedded into the global financial message layer.
Networks like XRP and Hedera, which focused early on enterprise alignment and compliant structures, now hold an advantage. Institutions will select networks that can scale, interoperate, and deliver reliability. The standards released by SWIFT make that decision easier. Trusted, tested networks will move from the fringe to the core of capital flows.
The Final On-Ramp: Welcome to the Financial Internet
The SWIFT Blockchain Integration 2025 upgrade is not about speculation. It’s about rewiring the pipes that carry global capital. For XRP, Hedera, and any network that built for compliance and interoperability, the time to be utilized at scale has arrived.
These changes reflect a broader movement toward programmable finance, asset tokenization, and public-private collaboration. As the infrastructure matures, expect use cases to grow from cross-border payments to digital identity, ESG verification, and tokenized bonds. The financial internet isn’t a concept. It’s going live.
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