Crypto analyst Austin Hilton has warned that a battle is happening around XRP as the token struggles to recover. The analyst says this fight isn’t only about XRP’s price. At the center of it are Ripple, the company behind the XRP token, and SWIFT, the old network banks use for international transfers. In the video shared on X, Hilton warns that the outcome of this “war” could impact XRP’s value and adoption, as Ripple continues to grow despite the strict regulations it has faced in recent years.
Analyst Austin Hilton Says Ripple And SWIFT Are Locked In A Battle For Global Payments
Hilton described it as a “war raging on” between Ripple’s blockchain-based network and SWIFT’s decades-old infrastructure.SWIFT stands as the central system for international money transfers, connecting thousands of banks worldwide. However, Hilton says that dominance is starting to crack. The SWIFT system is too slow, too expensive, and too outdated to compete with the instant payments that blockchain now makes possible.
Ripple’s network, powered by XRP, delivers a faster, cheaper, and frictionless experience. Transactions that once took days now settle in seconds, cutting out the intermediaries and costs that have long defined the old system.
According to Hilton, Ripple’s blockchain technology reduces the friction typically associated with SWIFT’s traditional banking processes. As a result, Ripple and its XRP Ledger are becoming strong alternatives to SWIFT’s dominance.
He also mentioned Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s comments that Ripple could take up to 14–15% of SWIFT’s massive market share over time. While Ripple might not replace SWIFT entirely, Hilton said it is steadily capturing a significant share of the global payments market.
SWIFT’s Blockchain Push Seen As A Response To Ripple’s Rising Momentum
Hilton also pointed to SWIFT’s latest move to adopt blockchain technology as a reaction to Ripple’s growing success.. SWIFT announced that it will use Linea, a system built on Ethereum, and will test smart contracts and stablecoins. But Hilton described this move as mostly a public show meant to signal adaptation rather than a step forward, noting that SWIFT is scrambling to catch up to Ripple’s decade-long head start in real blockchain development.
According to Hilton, Ripple’s consistent innovation gives it an edge, while SWIFT is only now trying to adapt to the blockchain era. Hilton connected this rivalry to XRP’s current price struggle, pointing out that as Ripple’s network expands, the token’s demand could climb since XRP is vital to the system’s transactions.
Hilton emphasized Ripple will not completely replace SWIFT, but will continue to take a larger share of the global market. Hilton warned that this ongoing “war” is about who will shape the future of international payments, and XRP holders are right in the middle of it.
