ISO 20022.
ISO 20022 represents the most significant transformation in financial messaging in decades. Unlike its predecessor (SWIFT MT messages), ISO 20022 uses structured, rich data formats that carry up to 10x more information per transaction. This enables straight-through processing, better compliance screening, and richer remittance information, critical for Africa's cross-border payment challenges.
AfriVest's cross-border settlement layer natively conforms to ISO 20022 structured data schemas, ensuring seamless interoperability between blockchain-native transactions and traditional banking infrastructure. Every tokenized asset transfer, stablecoin payment, and cross-border settlement on the AfriVest platform generates ISO 20022-compliant messages that can be processed by any bank globally.
How ISO 20022 Messaging Works
A structured, standards-based flow, designed to align with ISO 20022 at every step.
Message Creation
When a user initiates a cross-border payment or asset transfer, the system generates a structured ISO 20022 message (pacs.008 for payments, sese.023 for securities) containing all required data fields.
Data Enrichment
Unlike legacy MT messages, ISO 20022 attaches complete remittance information, purpose codes, regulatory data, and beneficiary details, enabling automated compliance screening and straight-through processing.
Validation & Routing
The message is validated against the ISO 20022 XML/JSON schema, ensuring all mandatory fields are present and correctly formatted. It is then routed through the appropriate payment rail (RTGS, ACH, or blockchain).
Settlement
The receiving institution processes the rich data automatically, no manual intervention needed. Compliance checks, sanctions screening, and AML verification happen in real-time using the structured data.
Confirmation
ISO 20022 status messages (pacs.002) provide granular confirmation, not just 'accepted/rejected' but detailed reason codes, timestamps, and settlement references.
The core tenets of the standard.
The principles that define ISO 20022, and how AfriVest is designed to align with them.
Rich Structured Data
Messages carry complete transaction context, beneficiary details, purpose codes, regulatory references, and remittance information in structured XML/JSON format.
Universal Interoperability
A single standard across all financial domains, payments, securities, FX, trade finance, enabling seamless communication between any institution globally.
Straight-Through Processing
Rich data enables automated processing without manual intervention, reducing errors, delays, and costs in cross-border transactions.
Enhanced Compliance
Structured fields for sanctions screening, AML checks, and regulatory reporting, enabling real-time compliance without slowing transaction flow.
Future-Proof Architecture
Extensible message definitions that can accommodate new financial instruments, digital assets, and emerging payment methods without breaking existing systems.
End-to-End Transparency
Complete audit trail from initiation to settlement, every intermediary adds structured data rather than losing information through format conversions.
ISO 20022 Message Flow Architecture
How financial messages flow through AfriVest's ISO 20022 compliant infrastructure
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Infrastructure aligned with this standard.
AfriVest solution layers designed to align with ISO 20022.
Explore the full compliance framework.
AfriVest is designed to align with a broad set of international standards. Explore the others across the framework.