SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG), an XRP-focused crypto researcher, posted a claim on X that quickly spread among traders. He stated that “SWIFT is being upgraded to Ripple.”
He backed his claim with a clip of investor Matthew Le Merle. The post arrives shortly after a separate claim about SWIFT and XRP drew a public response from a former SWIFT executive and criticism from community members.
What The Clip Shows
Le Merle discussed a broad shift underway in finance. Digital tools are replacing older infrastructure across the industry, he said. He listed several examples to illustrate this. Custodians like Anchorage and Fireblocks handle digital asset storage. Exchanges like Kraken provide marketplaces for buying and selling. He described these as part of a larger build-out of digital finance infrastructure.
He then turned specifically to payment networks. “We’re taking things like Swift or Visa or MasterCard,” he said, “and we’re upgrading them into digital equivalents, which have names like Ripple or Yellowcard.” His comments support SMQKE’s claim that legacy systems are being upgraded. However, some might argue that the researcher overstated Le Merle’s point.
Le Merle continued listing examples, noting that Tether and Circle already digitalize the US dollar, PaxGold tokenizes physical gold, and Bitcoin and Ethereum count as newer commodities in his framing, alongside older ones like gold.
Verbatim.
“SWIFT is being upgraded to Ripple.”✅
Listen for yourself.👇 https://t.co/KZ7IFRZoIc
— SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) July 12, 2026
Context Around The Quote
Le Merle named Ripple and Yellowcard together as digital equivalents to a category that includes SWIFT, Visa, and Mastercard. He did not pair SWIFT specifically with Ripple, and did not say the two companies have any relationship.
His comment described a pattern across the payments industry, in which newer digital alternatives challenge several older networks. Ripple and Yellowcard served as his examples of those alternatives, without being tied to a single named predecessor.
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Where Things Stand
SWIFT has not issued a statement addressing either the Le Merle clip or SMQKE’s most recent post. The researcher received support and positive reactions from many in the community. Tom Zschach, former SWIFT Chief Innovation Officer, pushed back on SMQKE’s claims about SWIFT supporting XRP.
Zschach has received his share of criticism from the XRP army for opposing Ripple and XRP. However, SMQKE’s claims were also criticized by Vet, a validator on the XRP Ledger, who also believes SWIFT is not using XRP and urged the community to block anyone making that claim. At press time, Zschach had not responded to the SMQKE’s update.
Disclaimer: This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses.
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