Catenaa, Saturday, October 04, 2025- Global financial messaging network Swift is experimenting with migrating its messaging system onchain using Ethereum Layer 2 Linea, according to reports, in a project involving more than a dozen banks including BNP Paribas and BNY.
The initiative aims to modernize interbank payments by enabling secure, real-time, tokenized transactions. Swift has historically trialed digital asset transfers across public and private blockchains, and sources indicate the current effort could take several months to fully materialize.
Linea, a zkEVM Layer 2 network built by Consensys, was selected for its privacy features and Ethereum compatibility. Swift said Linea’s advanced cryptographic proofs are crucial for banks seeking to balance innovation with regulatory compliance.
The network has been operational since July 2023 and recently launched a token generation event for its native asset, LINEA.
The migration reflects Swift’s ongoing push toward integrating blockchain technology to reduce friction in cross-border payments and support global scalability for tokenized assets. Analysts say the experiment may signal broader adoption of Ethereum-based solutions by legacy financial institutions.
Swift serves more than 11,500 institutions worldwide and has partnered with Consensys on prior blockchain initiatives.
While details remain limited, observers expect further updates as testing progresses and early integrations with partner banks are completed.
