SWIFT - An Overview

 Despite the large number of cross-border payments being made daily, many people use SWIFT payments without fully understanding how it works and who is involved.

A SWIFT payment, also commonly known as a SWIFT transfer, is a form of international money transfer facilitated by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT).

It involves a message containing payment instructions sent from one bank to another.

These banks can be in different countries, and the payment typically follows a secure and standardized process.

Not all SWIFT payments are simple one-to-one transactions; sometimes, intermediary or correspondent banks may also be involved, which can affect both the time and cost associated with the transfer.

This interaction between banks largely determines the efficiency of the payment process.

Breakdown of Key Participants:

The Payer: The individual or entity initiating the payment.

Payer's Bank: The bank from which the payment originates.

The Receiver: The person or company receiving the funds.

Receiver's Bank: The bank where the funds are deposited.

Plus, Correspondent Banks or Intermediary banks play a significant role. They act as middlemen, helping to move funds between banks from different countries or dealing with different currencies.

For smooth and safe communication between banks, the SWIFT system uses specific messages:

► MT103: A message from the payer’s bank to the receiver's bank.
► MT202: A message that goes from the payer’s bank to intermediary banks, ensuring funds reach the right destination.
► MT910: A confirmation message indicating a successful credit transfer.

For more details, Pls check https://statrys.com/blog/how-long-does-a-swift-transfer-take

CBDC - An Overview

 A CBDC could take multiple forms :

1) A Retail CBDC would be issued to the public to enable fast and secure payment,
2) A wholesale CBDC would only be accessible by banks and would facilitate large-scale transfers.

The security of CBDCs has real-world import and is one of the major challenges to overcome and it will depends on Roles involved and Stacks Involved.

1) Currency issuer. Every CBDC system needs an entity that creates money. Let's call this role currency issuer.

2) Payment validator. CBDC systems require entities that keep the system running and provide the needed infrastructure for other participants.

3) Account provider. Another infrastructure role in a typical retail CBDC system is an account provider that allows users to register, obtain payment credentials (e.g., in the form of a digital wallet), and start making CBDC payments. I

4) Payment sender and recipient. Payment senders and recipients are generally not trusted by other system participants. Instead, it is assumed that users may behave arbitrarily or even fully maliciously.

5) Regulator. The task of the regulator is to ensure that all payments in the system conform to requirements such as anti-money laundering rules.

6) Technology provider. The end users (i.e., payment senders and recipients) need to trust the technology provider for the correctness of the payment application and potentially also for the management of payment credentials.

++ Layers of the technical stack ++
Attackers can exploit different components of a CBDC to achieve their goals. In this section, we outline the CBDC technical stack, illustrated to the right.

1) Human. Although end users are not part of a technical CBDC implementation, they can be exploited to affect system security at large.

2) Application. CBDCs are expected to usher in an ecosystem of new applications that can interface seamlessly with the digital payment system.

3) Consensus. In order to provide redundancy against unforeseen factors like faulty devices, compromised infrastructure, and resource outages, many proposed CBDC designs involve the use of consensus protocols: decentralized processes for determining the validity of financial transactions among multiple payment validators

4) Computation and storage. CBDCs require back-end infrastructure to maintain a secure and functional payment system.

5) Network. The validation of transactions, issuance, deletion of money, and all other events in a CBDC will be communicated to the relevant parties via an underlying network.

6) Hardware. CBDCs will ultimately run on hardware, including mobile devices, hardware wallets, and servers that maintain the state and functionality of the system.

Cards Payments Value Chain : Source Quartr

 

The Five Key Participants in the Payment Value Chain

Merchants: These are businesses or individuals selling goods or services. To accept card payments, they must open a merchant account with an acquirer. This account is essential for processing payments and is used to register payables to the business. During a transaction, the merchant’s role is to initiate the payment process after the customer decides to make a purchase​​​​.

Acquirers: Also known as acquiring banks or financial institutions, acquirers provide merchants with the means to accept card payments. They play a crucial role in capturing transaction information and routing it through the appropriate card network to the cardholder’s issuing bank for approval. After payment collection, the acquirer settles the amount in the merchant account, which includes various fees and sales amounts.

Consumers: Often referred to as cardholders in the context of card payments, consumers are the end-users who initiate the payment process with the merchant. They benefit from the convenience of electronic payment methods for goods and services, both online and offline, and may participate in rewards and cashback programs.

Issuers: Banks or financial institutions that issue credit and debit cards to consumers. They are responsible for providing customers with credit or debit accounts and making payments on their behalf. In the payment process, issuers manage payment authentication, approve or decline transactions, and ensure the transaction’s validity and the customer’s ability to pay.

Card Networks: These entities, often known as card brands, are involved in every card transaction, whether it’s a swipe, chip-and-pin, contactless, or card-not-present payment. Card networks like Visa, Mastercard, and others provide the infrastructure that makes card transactions possible. They are responsible for passing information and settling funds between the acquirer and the issuer and set standards and rules for transactions and disputes.

Other Integral Participants

Acquirer Processors: Acquirer processors provide the technical link between merchants, card networks, and acquirers. They handle payment processing from merchants through acquirers to card networks or alternative payment methods (APMs) like PayPal, ensuring transactions are authorized and settled. While distinct from acquirers, acquirer processors often work closely with them, handling technical aspects of transactions, including fraud and chargeback minimization, and creating payment databases.

Payment Service Providers (PSPs): PSPs, such as PayPal, connect merchants to the financial system, enabling them to accept various payment methods, including credit and debit cards. They manage the entire payment transaction from authorization to settlement and act on behalf of merchants. PSPs differ in their service offerings, with some providing basic services and others offering comprehensive support, including security, fraud protection, and regulatory compliance.

Payment Gateways: These collect payment credentials from the merchant’s clients and forward them securely to PSPs or acquirers. They also act as intermediaries in electronic financial transactions, supporting both in-person and online businesses. They handle encryption of payment data, connection with payment processors, transaction authorization, data collection, and fraud detection. Gateways ensure secure, efficient, and accurate processing of various payment methods, including credit and debit cards and digital wallets.

Independent Sales Organizations (ISOs): ISOs act as intermediaries between acquirers and merchants, offering a range of payment services and products. Their primary function is merchant acquisition, and they may also conduct preliminary underwriting for merchant applications. ISOs provide ongoing training and support to merchants and operate within regulatory frameworks established by card networks like Visa and Mastercard.

Security Providers: With the rise of e-commerce, security providers play a critical role in reducing risk and securing transactions from fraud. They often employ advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data analytics to enhance payment security.

Digital Wallets: Digital wallets allow consumers to digitally store and spend funds, including real money linked to payment cards, loyalty points, or discount coupons. They offer the convenience of cardless payments and store various items like boarding passes, movie tickets, and loyalty vouchers. Key players in this sector include Apple, Samsung, Google, Alibaba, Walmart, PayPal, Venmo, and Block’s Cash App. These wallets use technologies like open APIs and smart ledgers (blockchain) for better integration and management of digital payments.

Terminal Manufacturers and Vendors: Terminal Manufacturers and Vendors develop and distribute Point of Sale (POS) terminals for various sectors like retail, hospitality, and financial services. Their core function is designing and producing hardware that enables electronic payment processing. These companies offer a range of products including traditional card readers, mobile POS systems, and advanced smart terminals. They often provide software and API support to enhance the functionality of their devices. Additionally, they offer technical support and maintenance services to ensure the smooth operation of their terminals. These vendors must comply with industry standards and security protocols to ensure safe and reliable transactions.

The complexity can make it hard to grasp the ins and outs of this space, but let’s look at some concrete examples and explore the roles of key players like Visa, Mastercard, Fiserv, Adyen, Amazon, and PayPal within this chain.

Visa and Mastercard

Visa and Mastercard, as card networks, are central to the payments ecosystem. They facilitate transactions among consumers, merchants, processors, and banks, overseeing processing activity, settling sales, and regulating compliance policies. They provide electronic networks for communication and transaction processing, charging fees to issuing and acquiring financial institutions. Unlike American Express and Discover, which issue their own cards and consolidate functions typically provided by merchant banks, card issuers, and card networks, Visa and Mastercard work with multiple independent entities on both the acquiring and issuing sides.

Fiserv

Fiserv functions as a payment, or credit card, processor. It works behind the scenes to provide payment processing services to merchants. This includes establishing merchant accounts, processing various card payments, managing processing, and implementing anti-fraud measures. Processors like Fiserv may be associated with acquiring banks or operate independently.

Adyen

Adyen serves as a full-stack payment gateway, offering a comprehensive platform for e-commerce companies that includes gateway services, risk management, and front-end processing. In 2019, Adyen expanded its services with Adyen Issuing, enhancing its in-store and online processing and gateway functionality. Adyen’s diverse roles include being a payment service provider, acquirer processor, owning an acquiring license, and even selling POS terminals, making it a versatile player in the payment value chain.

Amazon

Amazon Pay allows customers to use their existing Amazon accounts to make purchases on various retail sites. This service streamlines order management and payments across different websites, providing a familiar checkout experience through the Amazon interface. Amazon Pay ensures that eligible purchases are protected, and it offers convenience across devices including mobile and desktop.

PayPal

PayPal has through the years diversified its roles in the payments value chain. Originally a platform for online funds transfers, the company has grown through acquisitions like Braintree and Venmo. Braintree provides payment gateway and processing services, while Venmo offers peer-to-peer payment solutions. PayPal has also ventured into in-store payments, acquiring Paydiant to enable mobile wallet capabilities in merchants’ mobile apps and iZettle for modern in-person payment solutions.

In Conclusion

The payments value chain is a rich tapestry of interconnected entities, each playing a critical role in facilitating smooth financial transactions. Companies like Visa, Mastercard, Fiserv, Adyen, Amazon, and Paypal have carved out specific niches within this ecosystem, contributing to its evolution and efficiency. As technology advances, this landscape continues to grow more intricate, reflecting the ever-changing dynamics of the digital payment world.