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On November 20, the Philippines will launch its first-ever tokenized treasury bonds, aiming to raise a significant 10 billion pesos ($179 million).
This pioneering financial venture marks a pivotal shift in the country’s debt market strategy, reflecting a broader trend in Asia toward embracing blockchain and tokenized securities.
Philippines Experiments With Tokenized Treasury Bonds
The Bureau of the Treasury has replaced a planned bills auction with this novel tokenized bond issuance. This signifies the country’s adaptation to modern financial technologies and represents its commitment to developing its domestic debt market.
Tokenized bonds promise to enhance liquidity and transparency in the debt markets. This would be a significant step forward in financial innovation.
Deputy Treasurer Erwin Sta. Ana commented on the potential of this technology, saying,
“We will continue to study the technology and test how far we can take it.”
Read more: What is The Impact of Real World Asset (RWA) Tokenization?
This also signals the government’s ongoing interest in exploring the future of tokenized bonds beyond this inaugural sale.
The new tokenized bonds, due in November 2024, will be offered to institutional buyers, with the Bureau setting minimum denominations and incremental options. This structured approach to the bond issue showcases the government’s meticulous planning and foresight in managing this new financial tool.
The Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines are managing the issue, further emphasizing the involvement of key state-owned financial institutions in this initiative.
Tokenization of global illiquid assets is estimated to reach $16 trillion by 2030. Boston Consulting Group
Hong Kong Leads Tokenization Push
Meanwhile, Hong Kong is leading the race to integrate blockchain technology into financial services. The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) of Hong Kong has recently announced several fintech and tokenization initiatives. These also include the launch of an Integrated Fund Platform (IFP) and promoting applications related to the real economy.
The Financial Secretary of Hong Kong, Mr. Paul Chan, highlighted the significance of these initiatives, stating,
“Empowering financial institutions to accelerate digitalization and product innovation, better serving the real economy, and providing members of the public with more convenient, less expensive, and inclusive financial services.”
Read more: Real World Asset (RWA) Backed Tokens Explained
This statement underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing Hong Kong’s financial services sector and the real economy through fintech development.
Overall, the Philippines’ foray into tokenized treasury bonds and Hong Kong’s fintech initiatives represent a significant trend in Asia’s financial markets. These developments illustrate the region’s readiness to adopt cutting-edge technologies. It also highlights its willingness to keep up with its peers in global finance.
