As the global financial system undergoes a digital transformation, Ripple and its native token XRP continue to challenge the legacy infrastructure that has long dominated cross-border payments. One bold assertion now emerging in financial circles: Ripple could theoretically acquire SWIFT—the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication—for just 4.37 billion XRP.

But how realistic is that claim? And where does that number come from?

What Is SWIFT Worth? SWIFT is a privately held cooperative society owned by its member financial institutions. It is not publicly traded, making valuation difficult. However, a 2023 report by McKinsey and independent analysts estimated SWIFT’s notional valuation—based on comparable financial networks and transaction volumes—to be around $6.1 billion USD.

This figure reflects:

Its critical role in global interbank messaging (processing ~44.8 million messages daily),

Market share,

Monopoly-like status in fiat infrastructure, and

Revenues from its transaction-based model, estimated at over $1.5 billion annually.

Why Use XRP as the Acquisition Currency? Ripple, the company behind the XRP Ledger, holds a significant XRP reserve and has actively positioned XRP as a bridge currency to replace outdated financial rails. As of July 2025, XRP is trading at $1.40 USD—a level supported by a growing ecosystem of real-time payments, institutional tokenization, and new ETF inflows.

Using this valuation:

$6.1 billion ÷ $1.40 (XRP price) = ~4.37 billion XRP

This math implies that with a holding of 4.37 billion XRP (just under 10% of XRP's total 50 billion circulating supply), Ripple could theoretically match SWIFT’s estimated private valuation.

Could Ripple Actually Do It? Technically? Yes. Politically and practically? That’s a different story.

Ripple currently controls access to a war chest of over 40 billion XRP, held in escrow and released monthly. With XRP’s increasing liquidity and legal clarity following recent ETF approvals and global adoption trends, the asset is gaining traction as a real-world alternative to fiat rails like SWIFT.

Moreover, Ripple has existing banking and institutional partnerships in over 55 countries, including:

Bank of America

SBI Holdings

Santander

Tranglo

Palau (for national stablecoin infrastructure)

These relationships could potentially support a strategic acquisition, merger, or at minimum, disintermediation of SWIFT’s core business model.

Why It Matters If Ripple were to hypothetically "buy out" SWIFT, it wouldn’t just be symbolic—it would mark a paradigm shift in global finance:

A move away from messaging systems (like SWIFT) toward settlement networks (like XRP Ledger),

Reduced reliance on correspondent banking,

And faster, cheaper, programmable cross-border settlement.

SWIFT's primary advantage—its widespread usage—is being challenged by RippleNet and On-Demand Liquidity (ODL), which allow instant settlement in any currency using XRP as a bridge.

Final Thoughts The idea that 4.37 billion XRP could replace or acquire a foundational institution like SWIFT is more than just speculation—it’s a commentary on the shifting balance of power in finance. Whether through outright acquisition, partnership, or competitive displacement, XRP is positioning itself to become the infrastructure of global value—the way SWIFT once was for fiat.

As the digital era accelerates, the real question may no longer be "can XRP replace SWIFT?" but rather "how soon?"

Sources:

McKinsey: Cross-Border Payments 2023

Ripple Markets Report Q2 2025

CoinMarketCap (XRP Price)

SWIFT Annual Review

IMF Fintech Notes