The SWIFT Interbank Net incorporation of an unpublished standard In its messaging system: compatibility with wallets of “blockchain” (cryptocurrency networks).
The novelty, announced On July 19, it is part of the update of its ISO 20022 standard, which will enter into force in November this year. The update points to connect traditional operations with the growing digital asset ecosystem.
ISO 20022 It is a common messaging language for financial institutions, designed to standardize how data is transmitted in payments, values and currencies. The integration of the “Blockchain” addresses in that standard marks a step towards the interoperability between global bank infrastructure and decentralized networks.
Among the modifications introduced in the standards MT November 2025 of Swift, there are three elements to highlight that they direct directly to the integration of digital assets within the global bank infrastructure.
New BCAW format for accounts in blockchain
Until now, swift messages could only identify traditional bank accounts through a 35 -characters field known as «97a Cash Account»
This space was sufficient for conventional account numbers, but too short for “blockchain” addresses, which are usually longer and longer.
With the introduction of the BCAW format. cryptocurrencies as digital centers of central banks (CBDC).
In practice, this means that an international transaction can directly indicate a “blockchain” purse as Origin or destination accountsomething that was not possible before.
Incorporation of oracles as a price source
Another change is that financial reports under ISO 20022 will be able to explicitly recognize the role of oracles.
These systems act as intermediaries that transmit real world data to blockchains, for example, the price of an asset or the result of a financial index.
The new standard categorizes them as a “location code” within the messagewhich in practical terms means that the prices used in a transaction may have a verifiable and standardized reference.
Thus, when a bank reports the value of a token or a digital title, you can record which oracle provided the data.
Definition of “Blockchain” network commissions
Finally, a qualifier is added that allows explicitly describe Fees networkthat is, the rates that users pay in “blockchain” networks so that their operations are validated and processed.
Until now, international transfers through Swift did not contemplate these types of costs. With this novelty, messages can reflect with greater precision the real cost of operating with digital assetsincluding both the transaction and the associated network rate.
Together, these modifications show that Swift recognizes the progress of digital assets and decentralized infrastructure in global financial flows.
The fact that ISO 20022 incorporates these elements represents a bridge between centralized banking messaging and the distributed record of cryptocurrencies.
For banks, securities signatures and regulated entities that already experience with token and digital currencies, this is a common framework that facilitates the integration of these instruments in their daily operation.
