SWIFT, IBAN, IMPS and variety of the payment models on the internet have made it possible for the fund transfer over the years. But the blockchain is here and it makes the transfer of the digital asset faster than the asset transfer that was used to be done in the past. So the SWIFT, IBAN, and many other money transfer companies are feeling like old and left out. So they are trying to bring the value for the service by attaching themselves to the Govt. 

SWIFT and IBAN were the old models of sending funds across the border and they were and still are dominant. And they are govt and IMF approved around the world. They are transparent so that is the only thing that is in their advantage. And they want to adopt to the new tactics. And so they are calling for the universal ledger which they want to invest into and want to fund it as a long term project to stay relevant.

In short they are trying harder in the world of the blockchain. So if they want to stay relevant they want to create some ledger on which the data would be moved and they would prove their worth to govt. And so they would be connecting the local chains that would make the chain usage and the shared data model worth for their investment. It's going to have some impact on the chains that govt around the world would use as they have to connect with the SWIFTs shared ledgers. 

SWIFT is definitely struggling and they are desperate to make the efforts for the shared data and shared ledger. You can read more about it in the SWIFT's news page. Let's hope to see something better in the world of the digital payments.