TLDR
- ISO 20022 officially replaced SWIFT’s legacy MT messages on November 22 for global bank-to-bank payments.
- XRP Ledger activity did not increase following the activation of the ISO 20022 standard.
- The XRP network maintained a steady throughput of 22 transactions per second during and after the transition.
- Experts confirmed that ISO 20022 is a messaging format and does not enforce the use of XRP.
- Former Ripple developer Matt Hamilton dismissed the theory linking XRP to ISO 20022 as a myth.
The global payments system adopted ISO 20022 on November 22 as the SWIFT network fully transitioned to the new message standard. XRP Ledger activity, however, remained steady with no changes in throughput or adoption trends. XRP transactions continued at an average rate of 22 per second, according to Vet, a validator and XRPL developer.
XRP Ledger Shows No Response to ISO 20022 Activation
The end of SWIFT’s coexistence period with old MT messages did not influence XRP Ledger operations. Banks must now send payment instructions using ISO 20022, but this shift affected only messaging. XRP continued processing transactions at its usual pace, with no jump in volume or demand.
Developer Vet confirmed XRPL throughput stayed constant at 22 transactions per second, reflecting stable network behavior. His observation aligns with the long-standing view of many technical analysts in the XRP community. They have repeatedly clarified ISO 20022 does not trigger usage of any digital asset.
ISO 20022 governs how payment data is formatted and transferred between financial institutions. It does not control settlement layers or dictate asset usage. XRP’s functionality remains outside the scope of ISO 20022’s messaging updates.
Experts Reject Claims of XRP Integration With ISO 20022
Many experts have dismissed claims linking XRP directly to ISO 20022 integration. Former Ripple developer Matt Hamilton reiterated this after the launch of the new standard. He referred to the theory as a myth and posted on X that it had ended.
Hamilton said, “The narrative is done. Let’s see what new ISO 20022 nonsense theory they come up with next.” XRP saw no surge in use following the standard’s activation.
Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer also addressed the issue, stating XRP has no direct link to ISO 20022. He explained that they function on separate layers and do not interact by default. XRP can operate independently of any specific banking format.
Ripple executives have long explained that messaging standards do not mandate the use of XRP. The XRP Ledger is open and can support any asset or none at all. Banks remain free to use their preferred settlement systems.
XRP Narrative Unchanged Despite Banking Infrastructure Upgrade
The launch of ISO 20022 brought changes to banking infrastructure but left XRP Ledger unaffected. Banks upgraded systems to handle structured data and improve automation. XRP, however, does not depend on such back-end upgrades.
SWIFT advised institutions to avoid message submissions during the transition to prevent processing issues. No integration with XRP was involved. ISO 20022 only impacts how financial instructions are communicated.
The XRP community’s past expectations of automatic adoption did not materialize during the transition. No institutional shift toward XRP followed the enforcement of the standard. XRP performance data showed continued consistency.
Predictions that XRP would see increased liquidity or institutional adoption due to ISO 20022 proved false. The XRP Ledger’s operations remain tied to use cases and developer activity. It does not rely on external messaging systems.
XRP continues to evolve through its network’s tools, partnerships, and decentralized ecosystem. ISO 20022 adoption did not affect its operational metrics. The XRP token remains independent from financial messaging protocols.
On November 22, all SWIFT participants switched to ISO 20022 for interbank messages. XRP usage and demand did not change. XRP activity on XRPL remains determined by native factors, not by banking formats.


