SWIFT plans to launch a new retail payments framework in 2026 that will attract participation from over 50 banks, and Ripple has garnered significant attention as a result, since at least 30 participating institutions are already Ripple partners. The initiative aims to enable predictable fees and near-instant settlement on key payment corridors, highlighting a trend of Ripple's blockchain integrating with SWIFT and other banking systems, indicating that cross-border payment systems are moving toward a hybrid, more efficient direction rather than completely replacing existing systems.