German state lender NRW.BANK issues €100M blockchain bond on Polygon

Key Points

1. NRW.BANK issued a fully digital two-year bond under Germany’s Electronic Securities Act (eWpG), enabling blockchain-based securities without paper documentation.

2. The bond issuance highlights the growing role of public blockchains in regulated capital markets, with Polygon calling it a 'big win for the institutionalization of digital capital markets in Europe.'

3. Major German banks like Deutsche Bank, DZ BANK, and DekaBank are actively embracing digital assets, with Deutsche Bank developing a crypto custody platform and digital asset management tools.

4. Polygon completed its Heimdall v2 consensus upgrade on the same day, redesigning its consensus layer to improve scalability and efficiency.

5. The move by NRW.BANK adds momentum to digital asset adoption in Germany, showcasing the country’s leadership in integrating blockchain technology into traditional finance.