Swift rolls out new blockchain ledger to bring 24/7 banking to 17 global giants

Finance Swift rolls out new blockchain ledger to bring 24/7 banking to 17 global giants HSBC, UBS, Wells Fargo and Citi are among the 17 banks now preparing to pilot live transactions using tokenized digital assets on Swift’s new blockchain payments platform. By Olivier Acuna | Edited by Jamie Crawley Jul 9, 2026, 11:08 a.m. 2 min read Make preferred on Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Make preferred on (SWIFT) Summary Show Swift is planning live tests of a blockchain-based shared ledger with 17 major banks to enable round-the-clock cross-border payments using tokenized deposits. The new system is designed to let banks move customer funds overnight and on weekends, with final settlement still occurring through existing payment rails. Swift says the ledger will support regulated digital money and tokenized assets across multiple blockchains, extending traditional banking controls to faster, always-on payments. A roster of 17 banks are preparing to begin testing live transactions on Swift’s blockchain-based ledger, a step toward round-the-clock cross-border payments using tokenized deposits. Swift said the ledger is ready for initial use by banks across six continents in an announcement on Thursday. Its aim is to allow banks to move funds for customers overnight and on weekends, before final settlement through existing payment systems. The banks taking part include UBS, BNP Paribas, BNY, Citi, HSBC, and Wells Fargo. Swift, the bank-owned messaging network used by more than 11,500 financial institutions, announced the development of this shared ledger platform in October. It then said it would allow banks to settle transactions involving stablecoins and tokenized assets across multiple blockchains, working alongside current payment rails, not replacing them. Swift, said the system gives banks a shared layer for tokenized deposits issued on their own ledgers. Tokenized deposits are digital versions of commercial bank money. “With our new ledger capability, we’re extending the trust and stability of established finance into the frontiers of digital money,” said Thierry Chilosi, Swift’s chief business officer. The project comes as banks, payment firms and crypto companies test faster ways to move money across borders. Stablecoin issuers already offer transfers that can settle outside banking hours, though banks point to regulatory, compliance and risk controls as reasons for using tokenized deposits on bank-led infrastructure. Swift said 75% of payments on its network now reach beneficiary banks within 10 minutes, and often in seconds. The ledger is meant to add always-on availability for regulated digital money while keeping final settlement tied to existing systems. banks tokenized deposits Related Assets Bitcoin $ 62,728.96 0.75 % Latest Crypto News 1 Latin America’s biggest stock exchange now offers options on bitcoin, ether and solana futures 13 minutes ago 2 Crypto remains resilient in face of renewed Middle East tensions 33 minutes ago 3 Singapore's Temasek investment fund says crypto is off the table, will focus on AI 46 minutes ago 4 Crypto trader applies legendary HODL strategy to EUR/USD forex bet 1 hour ago 5 Sony secures conditional approval to set up U.S. stablecoin trust bank 1 hour ago 6 Two blockbuster AI IPO's on the horizon could leave crypto further behind 1 hour ago 7 Bitcoin's dwindling exchange reserves don't pack the same bullish punch anymore 2 hours ago 8 Live markets: Second day of U.S, Iran conflict keeps markets volatile as oil drops 4 hours ago 9 Bank of Japan may speed up rate hikes, pushing borrowing costs above 2%, ex-BOJ official warns 4 hours ago 10 'CASHCAT' trader turns $800 into over $1 million on Robinhood's brand new blockchain 4 hours ago Latest Research SpaceX IPO Drives Tokenized Equity Volumes to Record as Stablecoin Market Cap Falls SpaceX IPO Drives Tokenized Equity Volumes to Record as Stablecoin Market Cap Falls Stablecoin market cap fell to $312B in June, its largest monthly drop since TerraUSD, while tokenized equity volumes surged 145% to a record $3.86B. By CoinDesk Research Jul 7, 2026 Stablecoin market cap fell to $312B in June, its largest monthly drop since TerraUSD, while tokenized equity volumes surged 145% to a record $3.86B. Why it matters : Stablecoin market cap fell to $312B in June, its largest monthly drop since TerraUSD, while tokenized equity volumes surged 145% to a record $3.86B. View Full Report More From Finance Latin America’s biggest stock exchange now offers options on bitcoin, ether and solana futures Singapore's Temasek investment fund says crypto is off the table, will focus on AI Sony secures conditional approval to set up U.S. stablecoin trust bank More From Bitcoin Latin America’s biggest stock exchange now offers options on bitcoin, ether and solana futures Crypto remains resilient in face of renewed Middle East tensions Singapore's Temasek investment fund says crypto is off the table, will focus on AI