Doha Bank Completes $150M Digital Bond Using Euroclear’s Regulated DLT

Doha Bank has successfully completed a $150 million digital bond issuance, marking a significant milestone in the adoption of distributed ledger technology (DLT) for regulated capital markets. The digitally native bond settled on the same day via Euroclear’s Digital Financial Market Infrastructure (DFMI), a permissioned DLT platform operated by a central securities depository, highlighting how regulated blockchain-based systems are increasingly favored over public blockchains for institutional tokenized debt.

The Qatari lender listed the digital bond on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market, reinforcing London’s role as a global hub for digital securities. By leveraging Euroclear’s regulated DLT infrastructure, Doha Bank achieved instant settlement and automated record keeping while maintaining full compliance with international market standards. This approach delivers the efficiency benefits of tokenization, such as T+0 settlement and reduced operational friction, without compromising legal certainty or investor protections.

Standard Chartered acted as the sole global coordinator and sole arranger for the transaction, overseeing the structuring, execution, and distribution of the $150 million digital bond. According to the bank, the deal reflects growing client demand for digital issuance solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing capital markets infrastructure. Doha Bank’s global head of capital markets, Salman Ansari, noted that the transaction demonstrates how next-generation digital infrastructure is already delivering real-world efficiencies for issuers and investors.

The deal also underscores a broader trend across the Middle East and Asia, where banks and regulators are increasingly embracing permissioned DLT platforms for digital bond issuance. These systems provide controlled access, regulatory oversight, and interoperability with established custody and settlement networks such as Euroclear and Clearstream. Platforms like HSBC’s Orion and JPMorgan’s Kinexys (formerly Onyx) are being used for sovereign, corporate, and bank-issued digital debt, enabling faster settlement and on-chain transparency while remaining anchored in familiar market structures.

While public blockchains like Ethereum continue to be used selectively for tokenized financial products, particularly where programmability and open access are advantageous, Doha Bank’s digital bond highlights how regulated DLT is becoming the preferred rail for institutional-grade tokenized securities. Together, these developments signal that tokenization is moving beyond pilot projects and into live markets, reshaping capital markets infrastructure through evolution rather than disruption.