Odaily Planet Daily reports: The UK government has appointed Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Morgan Stanley, NatWest, and RBC Capital Markets as joint lead managers for its first digital-native government bond, the Digital Gilt Instrument (DIGIT), which is expected to be issued in the first quarter of 2027. The six banks will provide underwriting, investor communications, and distribution services.

DIGIT will be issued through a platform within the UK Digital Securities Sandbox and will test the use of distributed ledger technology in government bond issuance and throughout its lifecycle, including on-chain settlement. UK Economic Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby said the project aims to explore the use of distributed ledger technology in sovereign debt markets and advance the development of the UK's digital financial infrastructure.

HSBC was appointed as the distributed ledger technology provider for the pilot in February, and reached an agreement with London Stock Exchange Group in July to develop a digital securities depository connectivity solution. (Cointelegraph)