World Bank's Blockchain Bond Experiment Raises $81 Million
The World Bank's blockchain bond raised $110 million AUD, and is based on a private ethereum network.
The World Bank has exceeded its $73 million goal for its upcoming blockchain bond by $8 million, according to a new announcement.
As previously reported by CoinDesk, Australia's Commonwealth Bank (CommBank) intends to settle the bond, dubbed bond-i (for blockchain operated new debt instrument), on Tuesday, marking the first time the World Bank settles a blockchain bond. While the bank originally reported it would settle $100 million AUD ($73 million U.S.), it reported Friday that it had raised as much as $110 million AUD (roughly $81 million U.S.).
The bond's investors include CommBank, QBE Insurance, First State Super, NSW Treasury Corporation, SAFA, the Treasury Corporation of Victoria and Northern Trust, according to a release.
CommBank is using a private ethereum blockchain for bond-i, a bank press release said earlier this month. Microsoft has reviewed the platform's architecture and security.
World Bank treasurer Arunma Oteh said in a statement on Friday that the organization welcomes "the huge interest that this transaction has generated from various stakeholders."
She added:
The organization will continue to look into how capital markets can become more secure, she said.
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Coupons on the bond can be paid on February and August 28 in 2019 and 2020, the release noted. It offers a 2.2 percent return over two years, with a 2.251 percent semi-annual re-offer yield.
World Bank HQ image via Andriy Blokhin / Shutterstock