Is Ripple's edge at risk as SWIFT tries out the blockchain? Short answer: not yet, but the long game just got interesting.

International payments need a fresh coat of modern paint. Old-school solutions from Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), MoneyGram, and Western Union are too slow and too expensive. Newer options like PayPal ( PYPL -0.53% ) or Wise ( WIZE.Y -1.47% ) aren't always faster or cheaper.

Many investors see XRP ( XRP 3.24% ) and the integrated RippleNet service as the obvious answer. Ripple transactions can move money from one country to another in seconds, with average fees of $0.0002 per transfer. Ripple Labs has established local banking partnerships in dozens of countries, making the transfer experience seamless

See Full Page