IBM Launches SWIFT Ledger Adapter for 17 Banks, Adds On-Premises Option
In brief
- IBM announced a beta connection between Digital Asset Haven and SWIFT's shared ledger on September 24 using ISO 20022 Messaging Adapter.
- ISO 20022 adapter maps payment instructions to transactions on SWIFT's permissioned ledger while final settlement uses existing real-time gross settlement systems.
- IBM released separate on-premises beta allowing regulated institutions to run Haven on IBM Z and LinuxONE without public-cloud dependency.
SWIFT Ledger Pilot Expands to 17 Banks
SWIFT said in July that its ledger was ready for initial use, with 17 banks preparing to pilot live tokenized-deposit transactions. IBM says institutions already participating in SWIFT's program have tested tokenized deposits on the shared ledger with Haven.
The adapter translates ISO 20022 payment messages into ledger operations without requiring banks to overhaul existing infrastructure. Participating clients can move digital assets around the clock through the ledger, according to IBM.
But the settlement layer remains unchanged. Final settlement still uses existing mechanisms, including real-time gross settlement systems, so a tokenized-deposit transfer can move ahead of the final settlement step. This design lets banks experiment with tokenized deposits while relying on proven settlement rails.
On-Premises Alternative Addresses Data Sovereignty
IBM also announced a separate on-premises beta for institutions that want to run Haven in their own data centers. The second beta lets clients run Digital Asset Haven entirely inside their own data centers on IBM Z and LinuxONE, without a public-cloud dependency.
Regulated institutions face scrutiny over where custody and key management happen. Digital Asset Haven brings together wallets, key management, transaction signing and policy controls for regulated organizations. The on-premises option removes the cloud-infrastructure risk that some compliance teams flag during digital-asset pilots.
"That gives regulated institutions direct control over the infrastructure used for custody and transaction management as they evaluate digital-asset services." — IBM
