IBM links 17 banks to the SWIFT ledger, but the cloud risk persists
IBM launched a beta connection between Digital Asset Haven and SWIFT’s permissioned ledger, allowing participating institutions to instruct tokenized-deposit transfers using standard ISO 20022 payment messages. The integration combines Haven’s custody and transaction controls with ledger connectivity; transfers can move around the clock, while final settlement still relies on existing mechanisms such as real-time gross settlement systems. IBM also introduced an on-premises beta, enabling clients to run Haven and its key-management layer in their own data centers on IBM Z and LinuxONE. The two betas let banks separately assess SWIFT-ledger access and infrastructure control. The connection extends SWIFT’s existing controlled rollout, in which 17 banks are preparing to pilot live tokenized-deposit transactions.
