A new post by fintech commentator Vincent Van Coode has sparked conversation in the XRP and broader crypto community. His take highlights Ripple’s unique positioning within global finance, pointing out that one of Ripple’s biggest challenges – and opportunities – lies in connecting thousands of disparate, legacy systems still used by banks worldwide.
What you'll learn 👉
Ripple and ISO 20022
According to Van Coode, Ripple was one of the earliest advocates of ISO 20022, the global standard for electronic data exchange between financial institutions. This standard provides a system-agnostic interface, allowing new and old systems to communicate seamlessly.
Now that banks and financial institutions are adopting ISO 20022, Ripple’s early commitment may prove to be a strategic advantage. Van Coode argues that this positions Ripple to deliver its technology as a core piece of financial plumbing in the decades ahead.
One of the biggest hurdles Ripple (not XRP LEDGER) has is building systems that "talk" to 1000 of disparate, legacy systems.
— Vincent Van Code (@vincent_vancode) September 7, 2025
That is why Ripple was one of the very early advocates of ISO20022, as it provided a true, system agnostic interface between financial systems.
And now…
A “Mega Program of Work”
Van Coode described Ripple’s roadmap as nothing less than a “mega program of work,” spanning decades of incremental progress rather than any single, explosive milestone. The process involves multiple phases:
- Adoption: Establishing trust, overcoming compliance hurdles, and scaling demand.
- Growth: Reaching critical mass through majority adoption across institutions.
- Acquisition: A future stage where Ripple could resemble SWIFT – owned wholly or partially by its member banks.
This framing suggests Ripple is not aiming for short-term wins but for gradual transformation of the global financial system over the next century.
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Opinion: A Realistic Yet Ambitious Take
Van Coode’s analysis offers an important reminder for XRP supporters and skeptics as well. The common narrative around Ripple often focuses on legal battles or speculation about XRP price. But his post reframes Ripple as a long-term infrastructure play, one that won’t move markets overnight but could fundamentally reshape how money flows worldwide.
It’s also worth noting that the “acquisition” scenario – Ripple being partly or fully owned by banks – would represent a profound shift. If realized, it could bring Ripple’s technology into the same category as SWIFT: a global, bank-owned cooperative. That possibility raises questions about how decentralized Ripple’s future will be and whether XRP will remain central to its operations.
Still, Van Coode’s perspective underscores that Ripple is playing a very long game, and ISO 20022 might be the bridge that makes its vision viable.
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