Chainlink Ignites Swift’s Multi-Bank Tokenization Breakthrough
Swift has accomplished a brand new set of digital asset interoperability trials with BNP Paribas Securities Services, Intesa Sanpaolo, and Société Générale’s tokenization unit SG-FORGE, extending work that additionally contains Chainlink and UBS Asset Management because the messaging community pushes deeper into tokenized capital markets workflows. The venture issues as a result of it targets the toughest a part of institutional tokenization: getting belongings, money, and operational processes to maneuver cleanly throughout a number of platforms with out forcing banks to desert present rails.
Swift Hits Tokenized-Asset Interoperability Milestone
Chainlink posted by way of X on Jan 15: “As a part of Swift’s work with Chainlink & UBS Asset Management, Swift completes landmark interoperability milestone with BNP Paribas, Intesa Sanpaolo, & Société Générale.”
The trial, which Swift described as a “landmark” milestone, centered on the “seamless alternate and settlement of tokenized bonds,” with funds supported in each fiat and digital currencies. Swift mentioned the work lined delivery-versus-payment settlement and key lifecycle occasions together with curiosity payouts and redemption, with contributors taking over acquainted market roles resembling paying agent, custodian and registrar.
Swift framed the end result as a step past level integrations. It mentioned this was “the primary time we’ve got demonstrated our means to orchestrate tokenized asset transactions as a single, coordinated course of throughout each blockchain platforms and conventional methods,” positioning Swift as a impartial coordinator in a market that’s quickly splintering throughout chains, protocols, and settlement stacks.
A key component of the venture ran by SG-FORGE’s infrastructure. Swift mentioned the trial “harness[ed] their digital asset and EURCV stablecoin” to allow DvP settlement for tokenized bonds utilizing each fiat and stablecoins, whereas additionally supporting the bond lifecycle occasions examined within the train. BNP Paribas Securities Services and Intesa Sanpaolo acted as paying brokers and custodians, and Swift argued the settlement flows executing “over Swift” confirmed tokenized bonds can leverage present infrastructure slightly than forcing establishments into bespoke blockchain plumbing.
The community additionally highlighted requirements alignment, saying the initiative showcased integration of ISO 20022 messaging with “blockchain-native platforms,” a element that speaks on to operational adoption for corporations already operating ISO-native post-trade and funds processes.
Thomas Dugauquier, Swift’s tokenised belongings product lead, solid the trouble in institutional phrases: “This milestone demonstrates how collaboration and interoperability will form the way forward for capital markets. It’s about making a bridge between conventional finance and rising applied sciences.”
Chainlink’s Role
While the bond trial concerned European banking counterparts, Swift explicitly tied the work to a broader sequence of pilots, together with “bridging tokenized belongings with present fee methods with UBS Asset Management and Chainlink.” In that earlier UBS pilot, Swift, UBS Asset Management and Chainlink examined a mannequin for settling tokenized fund subscriptions and redemptions whereas retaining money settlement appropriate with present fiat rails carried over Swift’s community footprint.
Swift additionally pointed to different current experiments spanning fiat and digital forex settlement with Citi, digital asset transaction alternate with Northern Trust and the Reserve Bank of Australia, and ISO 20022-based blockchain interoperability with HSBC and Ant International.
Beyond expertise, Swift mentioned it has submitted proposed market follow tips to the Securities Market Practice Group, arguing that innovation in digital belongings mustn’t come “on the expense of systemic stability” and that clearer practices can scale back onboarding complexity for establishments.
With the trial collection “now full,” Swift mentioned it’s centered on including “a blockchain-based ledger” to its infrastructure stack, beginning with real-time, 24/7 cross-border funds “designed in collaboration with over 30 banks worldwide.”
At press time, Chainlink (LINK) traded at $13.78.
