XRP Set to Disrupt SWIFT with 14% Global Share, Says Ripple CEO

XRP, the digital asset at the center of Ripple’s cross-border payment network, could seize up to 14% of SWIFT’s total global volume within the next five years, according to Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse. Speaking at the XRP APEX 2025 event held in Singapore, Garlinghouse offered a bold vision for XRP’s expanding role in the global payments ecosystem.

During his keynote, Garlinghouse focused on how Ripple plans to reshape the financial transaction landscape by improving liquidity — an area where traditional systems like SWIFT currently fall short. “SWIFT today consists of two core components: messaging and liquidity,” he explained. “While banks control liquidity now, our focus is on making XRP the go-to solution for seamless liquidity — not just conveying messages but actually moving value,” he told attendees in Singapore.

SWIFT, the leading interbank messaging network, facilitates the information exchange between financial institutions during cross-border transactions, but it does not move the actual funds. When money is wired from, say, a U.S. bank to one in Europe, SWIFT transmits the instructions, but the underlying funds flow through a chain of intermediaries. This process can take several days and accrue substantial fees along the way.

Ripple aims to streamline this antiquated infrastructure by competing on the liquidity layer rather than just messaging. Using blockchain technology, Ripple’s platform enables both the communication and settlement of transactions, effectively reducing friction and cost in real-time international payments. Garlinghouse claims this dual capability presents a unique opportunity to displace a significant portion of SWIFT’s market share.

A critical piece of Ripple’s system is XRP, which serves as a bridge currency between fiat currencies. This negates the need for banks to tie up capital in foreign accounts, as XRP can convert value across currencies in near-instant fashion. This not only accelerates transaction speeds but also lowers operational costs and improves liquidity for institutions operating internationally.

Garlinghouse’s projection that XRP could process 14% of SWIFT’s current transaction volume rests on this promise of reduced reliance on pre-funded accounts and more efficient capital movement. “If you’re driving all the liquidity, it’s great for XRP,” he added, underscoring Ripple’s intent to focus less on messaging and far more on reshaping liquidity layers within banking infrastructures.

This strategic shift represents a significant evolution in how value is transferred globally. It also reflects a broader transformation in the financial sector, which is increasingly open to blockchain-based alternatives that offer both speed and transparency. The interoperability and scalability of Ripple’s network suggest that XRP could offer a compelling use case in corridors where efficiency and cost reduction are critical.

As Ripple continues to build out its ecosystem and onboard more financial institutions, the potential for XRP to meet or even exceed Garlinghouse’s 14% volume target could move from optimistic outlook to tangible reality — especially as regulators and banks around the world look to improve the outdated infrastructure of cross-border payments.

Related: Expert Advice: Sell XRP If You’re Confused

With strategic positioning and technological capability, Ripple and XRP are not just joining the global financial system — they are aiming to reshape it.