QNB issues Qatar's first native digital bond in $US 500m landmark deal

Doha: Qatar National Bank (QNB) has completed the country s first ever native digital bond issuance, raising USD 500 million in what is being describe...

Doha: Qatar National Bank (QNB) has completed the country's first-ever native digital bond issuance, raising USD 500 million in what is being described as the largest transaction of its kind by a financial institution in the Middle East and Africa.

The three-year floating-rate bond was issued through HSBC's Orion platform, a leading blockchain-based digital assets system operated under the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). QNB said the move marks a significant step toward adopting digital asset technologies across the region.

In a statement, the bank said the issuance aligns with its strategy to diversify funding sources and tap into new markets through innovative digital financing tools. It added that the deal demonstrates strong confidence from global investors in QNB's financial position and long-term strategy.

HSBC acted as the sole bookrunner on the transaction as part of a wider push to bring fully blockchain-based bond issuances to global markets.

The bond was structured with support from leading international law firms, reflecting what QNB described as a high level of governance and regulatory rigour. HSBC Orion is currently the world's largest digital bond platform by issuance volume in 2025 and remains the only one to have successfully processed digital bonds for issuers in the Middle East.