Guotai Junan International (GTJAI), a subsidiary of Guotai Haitong Group, has successfully issued its first digitally native bond via a public offering, marking a significant milestone as the first digital bond of its kind from a Chinese securities firm. The bond was structured as a direct issue, denominated in U.S. dollars, with a maximum amount of US$300 million and a maturity of three years. GTJAI served as the left lead joint global coordinator and B&D bank for this issuance, leveraging HSBC Orion as the digital assets platform.
Digital bonds are financial instruments issued using blockchain or decentralized ledger technology (DLT). Their core features include digitization, programmability, and automated execution, which are designed to enhance transparency and reduce costs and risks associated with settlement failures.
In recent years, GTJAI has been active in financial innovation, leading the development of digital finance and digital asset businesses. The issuance of this digital bond is a key initiative in its deployment of blockchain technology and digitalized finance. In the first half of 2025, the Company submitted its digital bond business plan and received confirmation from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) that it had no further questions on the plan, formally commencing its digital bond issuance business.
Mr. Zhang Xueming, Chief Financial Officer of GTJAI, stated, “Successfully issuing the first publicly offered digital bond of a Chinese brokerage firm is a testament to our unwavering commitment to financial innovation and a showcase of our professional capabilities in digital finance and contribution to promoting digital assets. This transaction not only enhances operational efficiency and transparency for our clients and investors but also solidifies GTJAI’s leadership in pioneering next-generation capital market solutions.”
Mr. John O’Neill, Group Head of Digital Assets & Currencies at HSBC, commented, “We are pleased to support GTJAI in the first digital bond issuance by a Chinese brokerage firm in Hong Kong. This transaction demonstrates the capabilities of HSBC Orion to enable both a broader range of digital bonds and issuers. At HSBC, we are committed to building liquidity in digital fixed income, and see more corporations and financial institutions recognising the benefits of digital assets.”
GTJAI plans to use this issuance as an opportunity to further explore innovative directions such as cross-border digital asset circulation and the digitization of green finance. The company aims to provide more digital solutions to the global financial market and contribute to the intelligent transformation and sustainable development of the international financial system.
Guotai Junan International (GTJAI, Stock Code: 1788.HK) is a market leader and pioneer in the internationalization of Chinese Securities Companies, and the first Chinese securities broker listed on the Main Board of The Hong Kong Stock Exchange through an initial public offering. Headquartered in Hong Kong with subsidiaries in Singapore, Vietnam, and Macau, GTJAI’s business spans major global markets, providing high-quality and diversified comprehensive financial services for clients’ overseas asset allocation. Its core businesses include brokerage, corporate finance, asset management, loans and financing, and financial products, covering individual finance (wealth management), institutional finance (institutional investor services and corporate finance), and investment management. GTJAI holds “Baa2” and “BBB+” long-term issuer ratings from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, respectively, along with an MSCI ESG “A” rating, Wind ESG “A” rating, and SynTao Green Finance “A” rating in ESG. Its S&P Global ESG score places it ahead of 84% of its global peers. Its controlling shareholder, Guotai Haitong Securities (Stock Code: 601211.SH; 2611.HK), is a comprehensive financial provider with a long-term, sustainable, and leading position in China’s capital markets.
