Investment Bank Report Identifies Ripple as a Major Competitor to SWIFT

A report from global investment bank Houlihan Lokey mentions innovations in cross-border payments, revealing Ripple as a growing challenger to SWIFT.

A recent report from investment banking firm Houlihan Lokey discusses the improvements transforming the cross-border payments sector. The report, released in April as a Market Update, was recently spotlighted by XRP community figure WrathofKahneman (WOK).

One of the observations pointed out by WOK is that Ripple, a blockchain-based payment solution, is emerging as a serious competitor to SWIFT, the dominant player in cross-border payments for decades. 

April market report on xborder payments from investment bankers Houlihan Lokey mentions #Ripple as a Swift challenger along with other fintechs, many of which use Ripple and some #XRP.https://t.co/2rKLFYTz3z pic.twitter.com/lgyDUV1JCn

— WrathofKahneman (@WKahneman) September 30, 2024

The report stressed that the cross-border sector sees about $190 trillion flowing globally in transactions annually. Notably, this makes the market a lucrative space where even incremental improvements in efficiency or cost reduction can have massive impacts.

Fragmented Payments Sector Presents Ripple with Opportunities

Per the report, the international payments market, while large, faces fragmentation. Traditional banking systems rely heavily on intermediaries, adding both cost and complexity to cross-border transactions. 

These inefficiencies make the market ripe for disruption, particularly through new technologies that can simplify the process and reduce expenses. Ripple, leveraging blockchain technology, has positioned itself as a challenger to the legacy SWIFT network. 

Notably, the system Ripple uses helps to provide faster settlement times, lower fees, and enhanced security compared to traditional banking systems.

Ripple and Blockchain Gaining Momentum

According to the report, Ripple and other blockchain solutions are beginning to make inroads into the cross-border payments market, competing with card networks and SWIFT’s established dominance.

Meanwhile, Ripple’s partnerships with various fintech companies further solidify its position. The report also highlights Airwallex, Nium, and Wise as other firms that are driving growth in this space. Two of these companies are Ripple partners.

For instance, Ripple’s partnership with Airwallex, confirmed in 2017, focuses on enabling efficient cross-border payments across its extensive network of business clients. Nium also teamed up with Ripple in 2020 to enhance its remittance services using RippleNet.

SWIFT Still Dominant but Facing Stiff Competition

Although SWIFT remains the leader, the report confirms its competition on multiple fronts. Besides Ripple and blockchain solutions, other fintech companies are providing alternative services that cater to the needs of businesses and individuals. 

The report notes that firms such as Payoneer, TransferMate, and Thunes are also making strides, targeting the same clients who are tired of high fees and delayed settlement times typical of traditional systems.

The global cross-border business-to-business (B2B) payments market, expected to grow from $39.3 billion in 2023 to $56.1 billion by 2030, provides room for competition. Ripple’s positioning will likely become even more prominent amid the growing demand for more efficient, lower-cost solutions.

Furthermore, in the remittance space, Ripple’s partnerships with companies like Tranglo are already proving transformative. Tranglo joined forces with Ripple years back, but only fully integrated the ODL service from Ripple across all its routes in 2022.