LSE Group invests in Nivaura, startup behind the first cryptocurrency bond

London: London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) said on Wednesday it had invested in a startup that lets companies issue debt on blockchain, signalling growing interest from mainstream finance in the technology behind cryptocurrencies. LSEG led a $20 million investment round in London-based Nivaura, paying an undisclosed sum for a minority stake, the two companies said in a statement.

Nivaura, a digital platform used for issuing and administering corporate bonds, loans and equity, was behind the world’s first automated cryptocurrency bond issuance in November 2017.

The platform enables financial instruments to be settled on existing clearing infrastructure, or as digital tokens that are recorded on public blockchain—the distributed ledger technology behind cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ethereum.