Swift, the financial communications network giant, recently unveiled a major plan: after completing digital asset interoperability testing, they will integrate blockchain distributed ledgers directly into their underlying technology infrastructure. The goal is clear—to enable true 24/7 uninterrupted cross-border real-time payments. More than 30 global banks are already participating in the design process.

This is not Swift casually testing the waters. Just look at what they've already accomplished: partnering with UBS and Chainlink to create a bridge between tokenized assets and existing payment systems; completing seamless settlement between fiat and digital currencies with Citibank; collaborating with BNY Mellon and Australia's central bank to exchange digital assets at the commercial bank account level; and working with HSBC and Ant International to achieve blockchain interoperability based on the ISO 20022 standard.

In other words, Swift is no longer just observing—they're taking concrete action to reshape the entire payments infrastructure. From tokenized assets and cross-chain interaction to central bank collaboration, each step brings them closer to blockchain technology. This reflects a reality: traditional finance must embrace on-chain technology, or face being replaced by the next generation of payment systems.