CSD operator group Euroclear enters the battle for the future’s digital securities issuance with the launch of a new service.

“The service enables the issuance, distribution and settlement of fully digital international securities – Digitally Native Notes (DNN) – on Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT),” writes Euroclear in a Tuesday press release. It describes the move as the “first key milestone” of its digital financial market infrastructure strategy.

“The inaugural DNN was issued by the World Bank … raising EUR 100 million to support the financing of the World Bank’s sustainable development activities and was listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Citi’s Issuer Services acted as the issuing and paying agent, TD Securities as the dealer, and Euroclear Bank as the issuer Central Securities Depository,” cites the press release.

Existing operators of digital-securities issuance platforms include Switzerland’s SIX, through its SIX Digital Exchange entity (SDX), and Germany’s Deutsche Börse-owned CSD Clearstream, naming its solution D7.

Euroclear is the operator of the central securities depositories in European markets including the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Finland, plus the international CSD Euroclear Bank, which also took over Irish issuers upon Brexit.