IBM Connects Digital Asset Haven to Swift Blockchain Ledger

IBM has connected its Digital Asset Haven platform to Swift’s blockchain-based shared ledger, giving banks a way to instruct tokenized deposit transactions through the same ISO 20022 messaging standard already used across traditional payments.

The integration is available in beta and has already been tested by financial institutions participating in Swift’s tokenized deposit program. Tokenized deposits can move around the clock through the ledger before final settlement is completed through existing banking systems.

ISO 20022 Adapter Links Bank Systems to Tokenized Deposits

IBM’s new ISO 20022 Messaging Adapter translates standard payment instructions into transactions handled through Swift’s shared-ledger infrastructure. That allows participating institutions to use existing payment-message formats and operational processes rather than building separate blockchain-specific messaging workflows.

Swift’s ledger acts as an orchestration layer for bank-issued tokenized deposits. Banks retain their existing compliance, credit, risk and operational controls, while final settlement continues through established systems. Swift connects more than 12,500 financial institutions across more than 200 markets.

Seventeen Banks Are Piloting Swift’s Shared Ledger

Swift announced its blockchain-based ledger at Sibos in September 2025 and developed it with input from more than 40 financial institutions.

Seventeen banks from six continents are now preparing to pilot live tokenized deposit transactions. They include ANZ, BNP Paribas, BNY, Citi, DBS, First Abu Dhabi Bank, FirstRand, HSBC, Itaú Unibanco, Lloyds, Mashreq, MUFG, OCBC, Standard Chartered, UBS, UOB and Wells Fargo.

IBM said financial institutions already participating in the program have successfully tested tokenized deposit transactions on Swift’s shared ledger through Digital Asset Haven. The ledger supports 24/7 movement of tokenized deposits, but final settlement remains outside the blockchain layer and continues through existing financial infrastructure.

IBM Adds On-Premises Digital Asset Haven for Banks Avoiding Public Cloud

IBM is also launching an on-premises beta version of Digital Asset Haven for institutions that want to operate their digital asset infrastructure entirely inside their own data centers.

The deployment runs on IBM Z and LinuxONE with no dependency on public cloud infrastructure and supports digital assets including stablecoins and tokenized deposits. Both the application and key-management layers remain inside the customer’s environment.

Cryptographic keys are protected using IBM Crypto Express hardware security modules, with separate controls for production, testing, and development environments.

IBM launched Digital Asset Haven with SaaS and hybrid deployment options in October 2025. The Sept. 24 update adds Swift connectivity and an on-premises beta as the platform expands into bank-led tokenized payment infrastructure.