Institutional Heat: Morgan Stanley Backs Ripple as SWIFT Challenger Amid XRP Bull Flag Pointing to $4.2

Morgan Stanley Flags Ripple as Serious Rival to SWIFT in Cross-Border Payments

Morgan Stanley, often viewed as a bellwether for institutional finance, has resurfaced in the blockchain-versus-SWIFT debate. 

A republished excerpt in the Review of Banking & Financial Law (Vol. 36), highlighted by crypto researcher SMQKE, suggests the bank sees Ripple-like systems as a credible alternative to SWIFT, a view that could significantly influence how global banks evaluate blockchain for cross-border payments.

Why does it matter? Well, SWIFT has dominated interbank messaging for decades, but its correspondent model is slow, costly, and capital-intensive. 

Morgan Stanley’s cited analysis underscores Ripple’s edge, near-instant settlement, faster transaction cycles, and up to 60% lower fees on some remittances. Those advantages are fueling renewed demand from banks and remittance providers for rails that unlock liquidity and deliver better customer outcomes.

XRP Forms Bull Flag as Market Eyes Potential Surge to $4.20

Market commentator Crypto Juju suggests XRP is consolidating in a bull flag after a sharp rally, an indicator that could signal another explosive leg higher.

A bull flag forms after a sharp price surge depicted by the flagpole, followed by brief sideways or downward consolidation in the form of a flag. This pause reflects profit-taking without breaking the bullish trend, and an upside breakout often signals the next strong leg higher.

XRP is hovering at a critical support zone that analysts call decisive for its next move. According to Crypto Juju, a strong rebound here could set the stage for a rally toward $4.20, a level that could mark a new all-time high (ATH) for XRP from the current $3.65. 

A breakout toward $4.20 would extend XRP’s momentum and cement its status as one of the year’s top performers. For now, the key question is whether this support holds as the launchpad for its next major rally with the present price standing at $2.87.

Conclusion

XRP is at a critical juncture as its bull flag pattern signals a potential breakout. If support holds, a swift move toward $4.20 could reignite investor confidence in its resilience and long-term upside.

Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley’s recognition of Ripple as a viable SWIFT alternative underscores blockchain’s rise into mainstream finance with the endorsement from a global banking giant adding weight to Ripple’s model and reflecting mounting demand for faster, cheaper, and more transparent payments.