Doha Bank Completes $150M Instantly Settled Digital Bond Led by Standard Chartered

Doha Bank has issued its first digitally native US dollar bond, a $150 million floating-rate note that settled instantly using distributed ledger technology. The transaction, led by Standard Chartered, marks a significant step in the modernization of capital markets infrastructure in the Gulf region.

The notes were listed on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market and achieved same-day (T+0) settlement through Euroclear’s Digital Financial Market Infrastructure (D-FMI). This contrasts with traditional securities, which typically require one or two days for settlement.

Standard Chartered acted as sole global coordinator and arranger, overseeing the bond’s structuring, execution, and distribution. Euroclear’s permissioned DLT platform ensured seamless integration with existing market standards while enabling real-time issuance and settlement.

The deal underscores growing institutional adoption of blockchain-based solutions for capital markets, particularly in the Middle East. Qatar’s early embrace of digital bond issuance signals broader regional momentum toward financial innovation.