Ripple, the BIS Basel, and the future of the global bridge currency
In Basel, Switzerland, there stands an inconspicuous but geopolitically significant building: the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). It is known as the 'bank of central banks', coordinating international financial standards and steering essential aspects of global payment transactions with its member central banks.
Since 2023, a new, high-profile player has joined the table of the BIS – Ripple. The company behind the cryptocurrency XRP has been accepted as an official member of the PIE Taskforce (Cross-Border Payments Interoperability and Extension). This working group is led by the CPMI (Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures) of the BIS. The goal: to make global payment transactions faster, cheaper, more transparent – and above all interoperable.
Why Ripple, of all companies?
While SWIFT was the standard for decades, it lags behind today's requirements. Transactions often take days, are expensive, and opaque. Ripple, on the other hand, offers:
Real-time settlement in 3–5 seconds
Bridge function between currencies thanks to XRP (On-Demand Liquidity)
Massive cost reduction through the elimination of expensive nostro/vostro accounts
High scalability for institutional payments
It is precisely this 'Bridge Asset' function of XRP that is crucial for the BIS: In a world where central banks are working on digital central bank currencies (CBDCs), a neutral, liquid asset is needed that is not the currency of a single country – and here XRP fits perfectly.
Signaling effect: XRP in the official BIS dialogue
In January 2025, the Institute of International Finance (IIF) mentioned XRP in an official statement to the BIS as an example of an efficient, immediate, and low-cost bridge currency in cross-border payments. This is more than just a compliment – it indicates that XRP is already being considered as a functioning model.
Global monetary architecture in transition
The BIS is advancing global standards that are adopted by central banks. When Ripple is actively sitting in the PIE Taskforce with Mastercard, SWIFT, and other industry giants, it is no coincidence – it is a strategic positioning to be embedded in the core infrastructure.
Fact:
Most central banks are working on CBDCs. These digital versions of national currencies must be exchangeable with each other. XRP could serve as a neutral 'liquidity hub' between dozens of CBDCs – quickly, automated, and 24/7.
Why XRP as a bridge currency is virtually indispensable
Neutrality – XRP does not belong to any state, reducing geopolitical tensions.
Technical maturity – The XRP Ledger has been running steadily since 2012, without major outages.
Energy efficiency – Transactions consume a fraction of the energy of Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Regulatory progress – Ripple is gaining increasing clarity in key markets, e.g., after the partial victory against the SEC in the USA.
The big picture
The connection between Ripple and the BIS is not a short-term PR event, but part of a long-term strategy:
Ripple does not integrate as competition to SWIFT, but as a complement and accelerator.
The BIS is testing how a standardized 'Bridge Asset' can function globally.
Institutions like the IIF already cite XRP as a showcase example.
When the CBDC architecture of the future is established, a single, neutral, highly liquid bridge currency will be needed – and everything points to Ripple working precisely towards that.
💡 Conclusion:
With membership in the BIS Taskforce, technical superiority, and neutral positioning, Ripple may have the best starting position to make XRP the global bridge currency. The financial world is reshaping – and Basel could be the place where XRP finds its place in the heart of the global monetary system.
