Siemens issues €300m digital bond via blockchain for instant settlement

Siemens has issued a €300 million digital bond, marking its second use of blockchain technology to streamline securities transactions under Germany’s electronic securities act.

German multinational technology conglomerate Siemens has launched its second digital bond, valued at €300 million on a blockchain, under Germany‘s electronic securities act in a bid to expand its expertise in the distributed ledger market.

In a Sept. 4 press release, the Munich-headquartered company said the issuance follows its debut of a €60 million digital bond in 2023, underscoring its commitment to advancing digital financial solutions.

The bond, which carries a one-year maturity, was settled through the private permissioned blockchain of SWIAT and utilized the Bundesbank’s Trigger Solution. The company says the transaction was done in a “fully automated manner, within minutes and in central bank money.”

“By issuing another digital bond, we are demonstrating once again our spirit of innovation and underscoring our aim to continuously drive digital solutions for the financial markets.”

Ralf P. Thomas, chief financial officer of Siemens

DekaBank served as the bond registrar, with BayernLB, DZ BANK, Helaba, and LBBW participating as investors, while Deutsche Bank facilitated the central bank money settlement.

Siemens’ blockchain efforts are part of a broader strategy involving new technologies. Earlier in 2024, the company partnered with Sony to explore the metaverse, focusing on industrial applications. The collaboration aims to launch a new mixed-reality headset designed for professional designers and engineers, enhancing productivity with artificial intelligence, according to Siemens CEO Roland Busch.