societegenerale

SWIFT and Societe Generale's digital asset subsidiary, SG-Forge, successfully completed a test of tokenized bond settlement using the EUR CoinVertible (EURCV), a euro-pegged stablecoin that is compliant with the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. The trial, conducted in early 2025, demonstrated the effective connection between traditional financial systems and blockchain technology.
Test Details and Findings
The collaboration showcased how SWIFT's existing infrastructure can facilitate the full lifecycle of tokenized bond transactions when integrated with blockchain assets, without institutions needing to abandon their current systems.
Key Use Cases Demonstrated: The test successfully covered essential market operations for tokenized bonds, including issuance, delivery-versus-payment (DvP) settlement, coupon (interest) payments, and redemption.
Technology Integration: The pilot successfully integrated the global financial messaging standard ISO 20022 with on-chain settlement assets, enabling faster, secure, and compliant operational processes.
Participants: In addition to SWIFT and SG-Forge, BNP Paribas Securities Services and Intesa Sanpaolo acted as paying agents and custodians during the transactions, confirming that tokenized assets can integrate with established market roles.
MiCA Compliance: The use of the MiCA-compliant EURCV stablecoin as a settlement asset addressed significant regulatory barriers, enhancing market confidence and paving the way for broader institutional adoption of digital assets within the EU legal framework.
Future Outlook
This successful test is a significant step toward the mainstream adoption of asset tokenization in capital markets. SWIFT plans to build on these findings by integrating a blockchain-based shared ledger into its technology stack, which will initially focus on enabling real-time, 24/7 cross-border payments. The initiative highlights the potential for collaboration and interoperability to shape the future of finance, blending the resilience of traditional finance with the efficiency of emerging technologies.
#Swift #SocieteGenerale #MiCA #stablecoin #Tokenization

In 2008, the world of high finance witnessed an unprecedented scandal that left Société Générale reeling. At the center of this financial debacle was Jérôme Kerviel, an unassuming junior trader whose actions would go down as one of the most reckless schemes in banking history. Operating from the Delta One desk, where European stock futures were traded, Kerviel’s seemingly diligent exterior masked a dangerous gamble that would shake the financial world.
Without an elite education or prestigious background, Kerviel felt the pressure to prove himself in a cutthroat industry. Instead of adhering to standard trading practices, he began executing massive, unauthorized trades on European index futures. Driven by ambition, he ignored safeguards, placing increasingly high-stakes bets and concealing his activities through forged trades. These actions created an illusion of compliance with the bank's risk limits, enabling him to fly under the radar for months.
The ruse unraveled in early 2008, when volatility in European markets exposed discrepancies in his accounts during routine checks. Société Générale’s investigation revealed the staggering scope of Kerviel’s unauthorized positions. In a desperate bid to contain the damage, the bank liquidated his trades, further destabilizing the market. The resulting sell-off magnified the losses, leaving Société Générale with a shocking $7 billion deficit—one of the largest trading losses in history.
Kerviel faced legal consequences, including a prison sentence and a €4.9 billion restitution order. While he admitted to his actions, he maintained that his superiors were complicit when his trades were profitable, turning a blind eye to his excessive risks. His case serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and weak institutional oversight. This cautionary tale underscores the importance of vigilance, transparency, and ethical conduct in a world where one individual's actions can bring even the most formidable institutions to their knees.

#FinancialScandal #JeromeKerviel #SocieteGenerale #BankingCrisis
#TradingDisaster