Decentralizing Finance: UBS, SBI, DBS Lead with First-Ever Live Blockchain Repo Transaction

In a groundbreaking achievement, UBS, SBI, and DBS have collaboratively launched the world’s first live repo transaction using a natively-issued digital bond on a public blockchain. This remarkable transaction marks a significant milestone for the financial industry, showcasing the capabilities and potential of blockchain technology in facilitating cross-border distribution and settlement of capital market instruments.

Transaction Details

The transaction was carried out as part of the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) Project Guardian, which aims to explore the feasibility of asset tokenization and decentralized finance applications while effectively managing risks to financial stability and integrity. The repo transaction, digital bond purchase, and redemption were settled using regulated digital payment tokens across entities located in Japan, Singapore, and Switzerland.

Benefits of Blockchain Technology

This landmark event highlights the remarkable advantages of utilizing blockchain technology in the financial sector. The implementation of blockchain technology enables real-time, 24/7 settlement, ensuring heightened operational and capital efficiency. Additionally, the decentralized nature of blockchain enhances compliance and security requirements, bolstering trust in the transaction process.

Transaction Process

The successful transaction involved borrowing tokenized Japanese Yen (JPY) against a JPY-denominated digital bond. The borrowed JPY was then used to finance the purchase of the same bond. Subsequently, the redemption and payment of principal and interest at maturity were executed on-chain, ensuring a seamless and automated settlement process.

Feasibility of Automated and Instantly Settled Transactions

This groundbreaking achievement demonstrates the feasibility of executing fully automated and instantly settled transactions across multiple jurisdictions by leveraging a public distributed ledger technology (DLT) network while adhering to strict compliance measures. The UBS Tokenize service’s flexibility played a pivotal role, allowing partners to easily adapt and leverage the innovative product framework and technology capabilities.

Strengthening Partnerships and Providing Innovative Services

The successful execution of this transaction not only showcases the immense potential of blockchain technology but also underlines the strength of partnerships between SBI Digital Asset Holdings and global institutions like UBS and DBS. This partnership aims to provide innovative and efficient financial products and services to the market and clients, ultimately revolutionizing traditional financial processes.

The completion of the world’s first live repo transaction with a digital bond on a public blockchain is undoubtedly a landmark achievement. It highlights the transformative power of blockchain technology in streamlining cross-border distribution and settlement of capital market instruments. As the financial industry continues to explore the applications of blockchain and decentralized finance, it is evident that this technology will prove instrumental in revolutionizing the way financial transactions are executed, enhancing efficiency, security, and accessibility for market participants worldwide.

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