The Problem with SWIFT in 2025 

If you’ve ever waited days for a cross-border payment to clear, or found yourself calling your bank to trace a missing wire, chances are you’ve encountered the limitations of the SWIFT network. In 2025, despite a global economy that demands real-time everything—from messaging to supply chain logistics—SWIFT continues to operate on a decades-old infrastructure that was never designed for speed or transparency. 

For businesses, the result is a constant source of frustration. Payments routed through SWIFT can take several days to settle, especially when multiple correspondent banks are involved. Transaction fees accumulate at every stage, often without clear upfront disclosure. And when something goes wrong—like a delay or rejection—it’s rarely clear where the issue occurred or how to fix it quickly. The process feels less like a modern financial system and more like sending a fax into the void and hoping it lands on the right desk. 

This lack of efficiency doesn’t just create accounting headaches; it impacts operations, cash flow, and customer satisfaction. Companies dealing with partners, platforms, or suppliers across borders are particularly vulnerable—especially if they operate in sectors that face higher scrutiny or regulatory friction. In a world where speed and control are paramount, relying on SWIFT can become a bottleneck for growth. 

 How SWIFT Actually Works (and Why It’s So Slow)

SWIFT, short for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, is not a payment system in itself—it’s a messaging network. When a business initiates an international wire transfer, SWIFT doesn’t actually move money. Instead, it sends a series of secure messages between banks, each containing the necessary instructions to transfer funds. 

Here’s where it gets complicated: if the sending and receiving banks don’t have a direct relationship, the message must pass through one or more intermediary—or correspondent—banks. Each intermediary adds a fee, a processing delay, and an additional layer of complexity. A single transfer might involve three, four, or even five different institutions before funds land at the destination. 

Crucially, none of these steps involve real-time settlement. Each participant must manually reconcile the transaction, often only during business hours in their respective time zones. This is why a transfer from Berlin to Singapore, for example, might take three days—even longer if it straddles a weekend or holiday. 

SWIFT was revolutionary in the 1970s. But in 2025, it’s fundamentally misaligned with the needs of agile, borderless businesses. The lack of transparency, combined with slow settlement and unpredictable costs, makes it increasingly obsolete for companies seeking financial efficiency and control. 

What Modern Businesses Expect from Cross-Border Payments 

The expectations around international payments have changed dramatically. Today’s businesses—especially those operating digitally or across multiple jurisdictions—demand a level of speed, clarity, and control that the traditional banking infrastructure, including SWIFT, simply can’t deliver. 

Speed is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. In the age of instant messaging and on-demand commerce, businesses expect financial transactions to settle just as quickly. Waiting two or three days for a bank transfer not only slows operations but also affects cash flow, vendor relationships, and customer trust. 

Cost transparency is equally critical. Hidden intermediary fees, poor exchange rates, and unpredictable deductions along the chain create budgeting challenges and erode trust in financial processes. Businesses need clear, upfront pricing—especially when handling high-volume or cross-border transactions. 

Operational visibility and traceability are now standard expectations. Companies want to know where their funds are at any moment, and why a delay may be happening. With traditional systems like SWIFT, the process can feel like a black box. 

Compatibility with modern financial tools—like crypto wallets, embedded finance platforms, and open banking APIs—is increasingly vital. Businesses want payment infrastructure that integrates seamlessly into their own systems, supports automation, and allows them to receive both fiat and crypto flows without friction. 

In this context, legacy banking rails feel not just slow, but outdated. Companies are seeking euro-native infrastructure, crypto-friendly platforms, and fintech partners that deliver real-time capability, lower fees, and full control over financial flows. The goal isn’t just to make payments—it’s to move money as efficiently as they move ideas. 

 SEPA: The European Backbone for Euro Payments

For businesses operating in Europe or transacting in euros, SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) has emerged as the best alternative to SWIFT for cross-border transactions within Europe. Created to streamline euro payments across the EU and EEA, SEPA is not only faster and more transparent—it’s built for modern business needs.

At its core, SEPA enables bank transfers between any two euro-denominated accounts within the SEPA zone, which includes all EU countries and several others like Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland. Unlike SWIFT, SEPA doesn’t rely on intermediary banks. Transfers are direct, meaning fewer parties involved, lower costs, and greater speed. 

But where SEPA truly shines is with SEPA Instant—a real-time payment rail that allows businesses to send and receive funds in less than 10 seconds, 24/7, including weekends and holidays. No waiting for bank hours, no timezone delays. For companies that manage high transaction volumes or need quick liquidity shifts, SEPA Instant is a game-changer. 

Equally important is cost efficiency. SEPA transactions typically involve fixed, minimal fees, or are even free depending on the institution—far from the multi-tiered, often opaque fee structure of SWIFT-based transfers. 

For digital-first and cross-border businesses, the benefits of SEPA and SEPA Instant are clear: 

  • Faster settlement times (seconds instead of days) 
  • Full compatibility with euro accounts 
  • Transparent, low-cost transfers 
  • Elimination of intermediary bank delays 

SEPA has essentially replaced SWIFT for euro transactions within Europe.
For payments within the SEPA zone, it remains the gold standard—fast, efficient, and cost-effective. But when payments extend beyond Europe, combining SEPA with stablecoins (now available through platforms like Monetum) offers a seamless way to bridge both fiat and crypto-based global payments.

Open Banking for C2B Payments: A Real Alternative to Card Networks 

In a world where card payments still dominate online transactions, open banking has quietly become a serious contender—particularly for businesses that want to receive euro payments more efficiently, securely, and at lower cost. 

Unlike traditional card processing, which involves multiple intermediaries (issuers, acquirers, card networks, and processors—all taking their fees), open banking enables direct, account-to-account transfers from the customer to the business. And for C2B (consumer-to-business) transactions, this means instant payments with fewer moving parts and less friction. 

With PSD2 regulation enforced across the EU, licensed fintechs can now offer secure payment initiation services. This allows a customer to pay directly from their bank account through their banking app—bypassing card networks entirely. For businesses, it means: 

  • Lower processing fees compared to card payments 
  • Instant settlement (especially when integrated with SEPA Instant) 
  • Fewer chargebacks and fraud attempts 
  • A seamless payment flow embedded in their checkout or invoice systems 

This is especially powerful for platforms—like subscription services, online marketplaces, affiliate networks, or SaaS providers—that want more control over the payment flow and a tighter reconciliation process. Payments via open banking are tied directly to bank records, reducing accounting complexity and speeding up cash visibility. 

Unlike SWIFT transfers, which can be slow and expensive, or cards, which are laden with fees and risk, open banking in Europe offers a clean, modern alternative—one designed to serve real-time commerce and programmable finance. 

 Stablecoins for Business Transfers: Fast, Transparent, and Borderless

Now that Monetum enables easy movement between euros (via SEPA) and stablecoins, businesses can design hybrid payment strategies that maximize efficiency both inside and outside Europe. Whether you’re sending funds to Asia, Latin America, or Africa, using SEPA for collection and stablecoins for distribution provides a faster, cheaper, and more transparent solution compared to relying on SWIFT alone.

As cross-border commerce expands and traditional banking rails struggle to keep up, more businesses are turning to stablecoins—such as USDT (Tether) and USDC (USD Coin)—to move capital across countries and platforms efficiently. 

Unlike traditional cryptoassets, stablecoins are pegged to fiat currencies (typically USD), offering the benefits of blockchain-based speed and transparency without the volatility. For businesses operating globally, or dealing with partners in countries where banking access is limited or slow, stablecoins offer distinct advantages: 

  • Transfers settle in minutes, even across continents 
  • Fees are minimal, especially when compared to SWIFT or card networks 
  • Transactions are traceable on-chain for compliance and auditing 
  • No need for intermediary banks, which reduces delays and costs 

A common use case: a company collects revenue in euros via SEPA or open banking, converts part of that into USDT, and sends instant payouts to contractors or vendors in other regions. This is particularly relevant for industries like digital services, fintech platforms, and high-volume ecosystems with international stakeholders. 

However, regulatory and compliance considerations still apply. Businesses must ensure they use regulated platforms that offer KYC, AML screening, and custodial or self-hosted wallet options. Additionally, conversion between stablecoins and euros should be easy and fast—something only a handful of fintech providers truly offer at scale. 

Stablecoins are not a replacement for all payments—but for many use cases, they provide a level of control, transparency, and speed that fiat alone can’t match. When used in conjunction with euro-native rails like SEPA and internal fintech transfers, they enable a modern, hybrid approach to financial operations—one that transcends borders without sacrificing compliance. 

The Rise of Internal Transfers and Fintech Infrastructure 

One of the most overlooked, yet powerful, alternatives to SWIFT lies not in traditional banks—but in the internal ecosystems created by fintech platforms. These platforms have redefined how businesses move money by offering wallet-based accounts, real-time internal transfers, and batch payment capabilities—all without involving the legacy banking network. 

Think of these platforms as financial hubs, where businesses can hold euros, send crypto, receive payments via open banking, and instantly transfer funds between accounts on the same network. Because these are internal movements, there’s no reliance on third-party correspondent banks, no clearing delays, and no SWIFT message routing. 

This infrastructure unlocks several advantages: 

  • Real-time settlement between businesses or partners already on the same platform 
  • Zero or ultra-low fees on internal transfers, regardless of volume 
  • Support for multi-role access and batch transactions—ideal for platforms handling affiliate payouts, subscription revenue, or vendor settlements 
  • Enhanced visibility and control, as transactions remain within a closed, auditable system 

For high-frequency B2B payments—especially in industries like digital marketing, eGaming, or cross-border services—this kind of agility is transformative. Payments can be automated via API, reconciled instantly, and executed 24/7 without ever touching a traditional clearing system. 

Ultimately, fintech platforms offer not just an alternative to SWIFT, but a whole new architecture for managing liquidity, streamlining operations, and scaling financial flows. 

 Real Use Case: Scaling a Business Across Europe Without SWIFT

Let’s consider a realistic scenario. 

A growing SaaS platform based in Germany offers tools for digital content creators. Their clients are spread across Europe, and they need to: 

  • Collect subscription payments in euros from customers in France, Spain, and Italy 
  • Pay out commissions to freelance contributors in Poland and Portugal 
  • Convert some of their cash flow into stablecoins for short-term treasury operations 
  • Settle platform fees or services with other vendors—quickly and without paying excessive fees 

Rather than rely on SWIFT, they build a multi-layered payment strategy: 

  1. Customer payments are collected via open banking: Instead of relying on card networks, they use C2B open banking links, embedded into their checkout pages. Customers initiate a direct transfer from their bank apps, cutting processing fees and improving reconciliation. 
  1. Earnings and payouts are routed via SEPA Instant: The company uses a euro-native IBAN provider to settle contributor payments in seconds—even outside standard banking hours. 
  1. Internal funds move via instant fintech transfers: The business operates a wallet-based treasury account with their financial provider. Transfers between their accounts—euro to crypto, or between team-controlled IBANs—are executed instantly, internally. 
  1. Cross-border liquidity is optimized using stablecoins: When paying vendors in Asia or converting funds to hedge against FX volatility, the company moves part of its treasury into USDT. This allows them to send fast, low-fee transfers outside the eurozone, and convert back to euros when needed. 

The result? No waiting days for wires. No unclear fees. No intermediary delays. The business scales across Europe with real-time visibility, full compliance, and operational control over every cent. 

When operating inside Europe, SEPA and SEPA Instant take care of most fiat flows. But when stepping beyond the SEPA zone, the company leverages Monetum’s capability to convert euros into stablecoins (like USDT) and send funds globally—instantly and at lower cost.

In this model, the company hasn’t just replaced SWIFT—they’ve eliminated its relevance entirely by adopting modern, purpose-built financial rails. 

Key Benefits of Moving Away from SWIFT 

Abandoning SWIFT may sound radical at first—but for thousands of businesses across Europe and beyond, it’s rapidly becoming a strategic advantage. Replacing legacy systems with modern payment infrastructure not only improves speed and efficiency but also creates entirely new operational possibilities. 

Here’s a breakdown of the most compelling benefits: 

1. Speed 

SWIFT transfers can take 2–5 business days. In contrast: 

  • SEPA Instant processes in under 10 seconds 
  • Stablecoin transactions settle within minutes, globally 
  • Fintech internal transfers are immediate and 24/7 

This time saved adds up, especially for businesses managing payouts, vendor payments, or large volumes of transactions daily. 

2. Cost Savings 

SWIFT often involves intermediary bank fees, unpredictable exchange rates, and high transaction charges. By contrast: 

  • SEPA payments are low-cost or free 
  • Open banking removes card network charges 
  • Stablecoins offer minimal transaction costs for international transfers 
  • Internal fintech transfers can cost virtually nothing 

Reducing these financial frictions can lead to significant bottom-line improvements, especially at scale. 

3. Compliance & Control 

Unlike traditional banking chains, modern fintech providers offer greater transparency. With real-time tracking, programmable APIs, and internal compliance checks, businesses maintain better control over every payment flow—and are able to adapt faster to regulatory changes. 

4. Transparency and Traceability 

Every transaction on-chain (via stablecoins) is traceable. Open banking flows are linked to identifiable banking institutions. Internal transfers are logged instantly. Gone are the days of “waiting to hear back from the bank.” 

5. Modern Business Compatibility 

SWIFT was never designed for: 

  • API-driven platforms 
  • Subscription billing 
  • On-demand payouts 
  • Crypto treasury strategies 

Modern alternatives are built for integration, automation, and flexibility. They match the rhythm of today’s businesses—allowing payments to be embedded, programmable, and fully digital. 

 How to Transition Away from SWIFT Without Disrupting Operations

Moving away from a long-standing financial protocol like SWIFT doesn’t have to be a disruptive overhaul. With the right strategy and partners, businesses can transition gradually and strategically, preserving stability while gaining flexibility. 

Here’s a step-by-step roadmap to start: 

Step 1: Identify Your Primary Payment Needs 

Map out the major types of transactions your business handles: 

  • Incoming customer payments? 
  • Outgoing vendor or affiliate payouts? 
  • Internal transfers between business units? 
  • Treasury management or FX conversions? 

This will help you match each flow with the most efficient alternative. 

Step 2: Open a Euro IBAN Account with SEPA Instant Capability 

Ensure you have a reliable euro-based IBAN that supports SEPA and SEPA Instant. This gives you a fast, affordable channel for all euro-denominated transactions within Europe. 

Step 3: Integrate Open Banking for Customer Payments 

If you accept payments from EU-based customers, integrate open banking C2B flows into your checkout, invoice pages, or dashboards. This allows instant, low-fee collection of funds directly from clients’ bank accounts. 

Step 4: Incorporate Stablecoins for Non-EU Transactions 

For cross-border operations outside SEPA (e.g. Asia, LatAm, Africa), add stablecoin rails like USDT or USDC to your treasury strategy. This enables faster payouts, easier settlement with global vendors, and better control over FX volatility. 

Step 5: Consolidate Internal Payments Through Fintech Platforms 

Adopt a fintech infrastructure that allows wallet-to-wallet or internal account transfers. This gives your finance team control over real-time movement of funds across departments, use cases, or subsidiaries. 

Step 6: Automate and Monitor with APIs 

Choose a provider that offers developer-friendly APIs. This allows you to automate workflows—like batch payments, real-time reconciliation, and balance alerts—while reducing manual errors and improving efficiency. 

Step 7: Phase Out SWIFT Gradually 

You don’t need to eliminate SWIFT overnight. Start by redirecting key flows (e.g. intra-EU transfers, euro collections, crypto conversions) to their new alternatives. Over time, reduce SWIFT dependency until it becomes a fallback, not a foundation.

Conclusion: Building a Faster, Borderless Payment Strategy

In an economy that moves at the speed of the internet, relying on outdated banking infrastructure like SWIFT isn’t just inefficient—it’s a strategic liability. Businesses today need more than just a way to send money. They need agile, transparent, and programmable financial systems that keep pace with their operations, not slow them down.

Fortunately, the tools now exist. With SEPA Instant, companies can move euros across borders in seconds within Europe. Through open banking, they can collect payments directly—without card fees or intermediaries. When operating outside Europe, combining SEPA and stablecoins allows businesses to send and receive global payments with unmatched speed and cost-efficiency. And with fintech platforms offering internal transfers and wallet-based infrastructure, even complex payment architectures can be streamlined into one unified, real-time ecosystem.

The smartest businesses in Europe are already adopting these models. Not to be trendy—but because it works. It simplifies treasury. Speeds up operations. Cuts costs. And most importantly, frees them from the friction and opacity of legacy systems.

If you’re ready to rethink your payment stack, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Many of today’s most forward-thinking fintech partners are designed to make this transition seamless. At Monetum, for instance, we offer an open-minded, integrated approach that brings euro IBANs, SEPA Instant, C2B open banking, crypto support, and internal transfers into one streamlined dashboard—without the limitations of traditional banking.

Start simplifying your global payments today. Open your Monetum account today and build a faster, borderless payment strategy tailored to your business.