Patrick Bet-David has spotlighted XRP as a potential candidate amid recent discussions about the possible replacement of SWIFT by more modern systems.
This discussion, spearheaded by American businessman and financial commentator Bet-David, came up in one of the latest episodes of the PBD Podcast featuring Tom Ellsworth, Chief Strategy Officer at PHP Agency, and Brandon Aceto, Head of Research for Valuetainment, as guests.
Notably, the podcast, which boasts over 2.77 million subscribers on YouTube, covered several major financial topics, including the New York Stock Exchange’s $2 billion investment in Polymarket and Bitcoin’s ongoing rally, which recently saw it surpass a new all-time high above $126,000.
Could SWIFT Be Replaced?
During the segment on Bitcoin’s rally, Bet-David asked Ellsworth if he thought another modern system could someday replace SWIFT. Interestingly, Ellsworth answered yes without hesitation.
He explained that the financial industry constantly evolves and often replaces outdated systems with more modern ones. To make his point, Ellsworth mentioned how SOFR replaced the LIBOR benchmark.
He said SWIFT has long served as a transport system for money transfers, but the rise of blockchain now makes room for newer, faster alternatives.
However, Ellsworth also made a comparison between wire transfers and ACH transfers. He pointed out that even though ACH is newer, wire transfers still move money faster. He used this instance to explain how newer systems sometimes complicate things instead of improving them.
Bet-David Spotlights XRP and Ripple
Bet-David agreed with Ellsworth’s take and called it a great observation. From there, he then spotlighted Ripple and XRP.
He mentioned the huge amount of money recently flowing into Ripple and said that many people now see it as a serious alternative to SWIFT. He then asked Aceto what he thought about Ripple’s role in the future of global payments.
In response, Aceto said SWIFT has become an old and inefficient system. He explained that SWIFT doesn’t actually move money, as it only sends messages between banks that later adjust their ledgers. According to him, this setup causes delays and extra costs.
In contrast, Ripple’s payment system and other blockchains allow money to move across borders in seconds and at very low fees. Aceto said this directly addresses SWIFT’s biggest weaknesses: speed and cost.
Responding, Bet-David noted that many others are also asking the same question about what might replace SWIFT. He mentioned that he and Ellsworth had met with someone recently who is involved with another cryptocurrency project.
Previous Discussions around XRP Replacing SWIFT
Notably, this isn’t the first time Bet-David has brought up XRP’s potential role in global payments. Back in March 2025, on a different PBD Podcast episode, he highlighted analyses from other experts who predicted that XRP could one day replace or disrupt SWIFT.
He emphasized that the predictions did not come from him but from analysts and commentators in the crypto space. During the commentary, Bet-David pointed out XRP’s biggest advantages: transaction times of just three to five seconds and fees that cost only a fraction of a cent.
He shared analysts’ calculations showing that SWIFT currently handles around $5 trillion in daily transactions, or about $1.25 quadrillion each year. Some experts suggested that if XRP captured just 5% to 10% of that volume, it could push the token’s price to $100 and generate about $125 trillion in yearly volume.
In an even more ambitious scenario, where XRP completely replaces SWIFT, these analysts projected the token could reach $1,000 with a $10 trillion market cap. However, Bet-David clarified that these forecasts usually come from enthusiastic XRP proponents.
While the recent podcast explored the idea of XRP replacing SWIFT, new developments show that SWIFT is not standing still. Late last month, during the Sibos Conference in Frankfurt, SWIFT announced plans to build a blockchain-based shared ledger system in partnership with blockchain firm Consensys.
DisClamier: This content is informational and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author's personal opinions and do not reflect The Crypto Basic opinion. Readers are encouraged to do thorough research before making any investment decisions. The Crypto Basic is not responsible for any financial losses.
