SWIFT Chooses Linea for Multi-Month Interbank Messaging System Overhaul

Global banking's messaging backbone just picked its blockchain partner.

SWIFT—the network handling trillions in daily cross-border payments—is reportedly migrating its interbank messaging infrastructure to Linea in a multi-month transition. This isn't just a tech upgrade; it's a seismic shift for legacy finance.

Why This Transition Matters

Linea's blockchain infrastructure will handle SWIFT's critical messaging flows between financial institutions worldwide. The multi-month rollout suggests careful scaling rather than a flash cutover—bankers do love their phased migrations.

Active verbs define this move: Linea's technology doesn't just enable messaging; it streamlines settlement, cuts intermediary layers, and potentially bypasses traditional banking delays. The transition period indicates SWIFT recognizes the operational gravity—this isn't another blockchain pilot program.

Legacy finance finally admits blockchain works better than their 1970s messaging protocol. Who knew?

Network selection rationale

The source said Swift chose Linea specifically for its transaction confidentiality features, which utilize advanced cryptographic proofs.

The banking consortium required blockchain solutions that maintain data protection and regulatory compliance, while offering greater speed, transparency, and programmability than traditional payment processing methods.

Developed by Consensys, Linea focuses on privacy-preserving transactions through zero-knowledge proofs, addressing banks’ need to reconcile the benefits of blockchain with existing regulatory frameworks.

The network’s connection to Ethereum provides established infrastructure while layer-2 technology reduces transaction costs.

Swift connects over 11,000 financial institutions globally through its messaging system, processing billions of payment instructions annually.

Multiple experiments

The current architecture relies on multiple relays and centralized infrastructure, creating operational dependencies that blockchain technology could streamline.

Swift has progressed through multiple blockchain experiments since announcing its digital asset strategy.

The organization launched live digital asset trials across North America, Europe, and Asia in October 2024 and completed a tokenized fund settlement pilot with UBS Asset Management and chainlink in November of the same year.

The Linea pilot builds on Swift’s broader blockchain integration efforts, which include participation in the Bank for International Settlements’ Project Agora and collaboration with central bank digital currency initiatives.