Doha Bank Issues Digital Bond in Landmark Deal

Doha Bank has taken a major step in modernizing capital markets by issuing a $150 million digital bond using blockchain technology. This move sets a new standard for capital market activity in the Gulf region. 

The transaction shows that established institutions can use digital technologies to work faster and more efficiently while still fully following existing regulations.

Doha Bank Issues Bond Using Digital Ledger Technology

Reportedly, the bond was created and settled using Euroclear’s distributed ledger technology (DLT) platform. 

This approach allowed the full bond issuance to run on a digital system built for regulated institutions. Doha bank also revealed that it rolled out the digital bond directly to a live environment rather than testing new systems in isolation. 

The bank’s decision to use a permissioned DLT platform instead of an open public blockchain reflects a broader industry preference. DLT allows smooth integration with existing systems while meeting regulatory requirements. 

This ensures controlled access and legal clarity. Furthermore, Standard Chartered acted as the sole global coordinator and arranger for the bond. 

The bank handled the structure, execution, and distribution, giving investors confidence that the deal met global market standards. 

For institutional investors, the bond combined digital efficiency with the safety of traditional markets. Euroclear said the deal proves that digital bonds can be issued securely at scale.

Doha Bank Achieves Same-Day Bond Settlement

One of the key outcomes of the deal was same-day settlement, also known as T+0. The bond was listed on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market and settled on the same day, unlike traditional bonds that can take several days to settle.

This digital approach removed delays, reduced risk, and confirmed ownership instantly. 

As markets across the Gulf adopt more digital tools, Doha Bank’s bond shows growing trust in digital systems to improve efficiency and transparency without changing how markets fundamentally work.

Doha Bank Joins the Move Toward Digital Finance

Doha Bank’s digital bond is part of a wider effort to modernize financial systems. Global banks such as HSBC, JPMorgan, UBS, Société Générale, and the European Investment Bank have already issued digital bonds using DLT. 

These issuances were completed within regulated market structures, allowing digital bonds to work smoothly within current processes. Regulators such as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority are also encouraging safe adoption of new technology into banking systems. 

Standard Chartered says demand for digital issuance is rising fast. Institutions are no longer testing tokenization in theory. They are now using it in practice to make markets more efficient, and Doha Bank’s bond adds to this growing trend.