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Banking and Blockchain: How traditional payments can benefit from emerging technologies

London
JTC’s Banking and Treasury team lead the way when it comes to embracing new technology to benefit institutional and private clients.

In his latest insight, Paul Fosse, Group Head of Banking and Treasury, delves into how corporate service providers could leverage blockchain technology to deliver payment instructions to service providers directly, and banks, while retaining the benefits of familiarity and security of traditional methods.

As Ripple Labs achieves a significant victory in the SEC case over the XRP token, discussions surrounding traditional payment methods and blockchain technologies are gaining momentum. You can find out more here: Ripple Labs notches landmark win in SEC case

 

What are SWIFT and XRP?

Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) is a globally recognised messaging network used by financial institutions to securely exchange financial information, including payment instructions. With an extensive network of member banks, SWIFT ensures the reliable and standardised transfer of funds worldwide.

XRP is the native token on the Ripple network, operating on a decentralised blockchain network known as the XRP Ledger. It aims to offer fast and cost-effective transactions, settling within seconds, making it an attractive alternative to traditional payment methods.

 

The New and the Familiar

Corporate service providers could harness the power of XRP by integrating it into their payment systems. By leveraging XRP’s blockchain technology, providers can offer their clients faster, cheaper, and more transparent payment instructions, streamlining payment processes.

While corporate service providers could adopt XRP for payment instructions, banks can continue to rely on the security and familiarity of the SWIFT network. An interesting prospect is how different service providers could use blockchain technology to settle client payment instructions directly, bypassing the need to involve banks.

Banks may choose to integrate XRP as an additional layer within their existing infrastructure, enabling them to receive payment instructions through the XRP Ledger while maintaining their trust and robustness in SWIFT. This hybrid approach combines the speed and cost efficiency of XRP with the network and compliance measures offered by SWIFT to give them the comfort they’re used to.

The adoption of XRP could unlock various advantages for all using it, including enhanced anti-money laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, reducing compliance risks. Additionally, XRP’s integration with other blockchain networks and protocols opens up opportunities for banks to explore innovative financial products and services.

Despite the potential benefits of technologies like XRP, traditional banks may still require the reassurance and security provided by the established SWIFT network, which has been the backbone of international financial communication for decades which is where a hybrid approach could be of benefit.

 

A Promising Future?

The recent news confirming XRP’s classification as a digital token, not an investment contract, paves the way for the integration of traditional financial systems and technologies like XRP within the next 5 years.

As the Bank of England actively explores the use of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), and Ripple’s cross-border solutions gain media attention, we are entering an exciting new era of banking as you can see from the following links:

Technological advancements, regulatory developments, and evolving consumer expectations may drive greater adoption and integration of blockchain technologies into existing financial infrastructures. A collaborative approach between banks and corporate service providers could lead to a more efficient, secure, and inclusive global financial ecosystem.

As JTC continues to develop and build its banking and treasury function, it is important to stay ahead of technological advancements through industry collaboration, continual professional development and in-depth research.

This article illustrates a high-level overview of how institutions could leverage blockchain technology while recognising that the future of financial technology is subject to numerous variables and uncertainties. To discuss our thoughts on technology within financial services, please get in touch with Paul Fosse directly.

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