On November 22, 2025, the SWIFT international interbank payment system officially transitions to a single standard ISO 20022 CBPR+. This is, without exaggeration, one of the most significant events in global finance in the last decade.
The new protocol will make payment messages not only structured but machine-readable, meaning they can be easily integrated with analytical systems, compliance algorithms, and even — with blockchain.
In fact, the financial infrastructure of the world is transitioning to a unified digital data format that allows us to see not only who is paying whom, but also for what, where the funds come from, what type of asset is used, etc.
📊 What does this mean?
Full synchronization of banking systems.
Now SWIFT, central banks, and commercial institutions work in a joint logic. A payment becomes not just a transaction, but a digital data package.Traceability of capital.
ISO 20022 is not just about convenience. It's also about control. Every movement of capital can be traced with precision to the counterparty. For financial security — a plus, for anonymity — a minus.Preparation for CBDC integration.
SWIFT is already testing joint cross-border operations with central bank digital currencies. The first wave of implementing such solutions is expected within the existing protocol by 2026.
🇺🇦 Ukrainian context
For Ukraine, this is both a challenge and an opportunity.
Our financial sector is already working with ISO 20022 within the NBU's SEP, so integration into new global standards will not come as a shock. However, in 2026, the NBU will likely have to expand compatibility with international SWIFT CBPR+ channels if the country wants to remain in the global financial circle.
🧭 For the crypto world
The new standard forms the basis for the official 'merger' of traditional and tokenized assets.
When financial messages become standardized, tokenized accounting (on the blockchain) can be integrated into banking systems without a technical barrier. This is a step towards a new generation of Web3 finance — transparent, controlled, and legalized.
The irony of fate is that blockchain — once a symbol of decentralization — is now becoming part of the centralized architecture of global settlements.
💬 The world is transitioning to 'programmable money' mode. The only question is whether crypto can remain an alternative or will simply become an overlay over the new digital code of the financial system.
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