World Bank Launches Blockchain Bond Platform Raising A$110 Million

On August 23, 2018, the World Bank priced bond-i (Blockchain Offered New Debt Instrument), the world's first bond to be created, allocated, transferred, and managed using distributed ledger technology. The bond raised A$110 million and was arranged by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, which developed the blockchain platform. The initiative demonstrated how distributed ledger technology can streamline bond issuance and lifecycle management, reducing intermediaries and increasing transparency in capital markets.

The bond-i platform handles the entire bond lifecycle on blockchain, from creation through settlement and ongoing management, representing a significant embedded finance innovation in debt capital markets. The project was designed as a proof of concept for broader adoption of blockchain in financial infrastructure. The successful issuance attracted strong investor demand and signaled institutional willingness to embrace blockchain-based financial products at the highest levels of global finance.