Share this article
French Bank BNP is Testing Blockchain for Mini-Bonds
BNP Paribas has announced its latest blockchain project will focus on 'mini-bonds' for small investors.
By Pete Rizzo
Updated Sep 11, 2021, 12:30 p.m. Published Sep 19, 2016, 3:37 a.m.
Make us preferred on Google
BNP Paribas has revealed its securities services division is working on a blockchain platform that would enable retail investors to lend money to businesses via an instrument known as a mini-bond.
According to Financial News, BNP Paribas Securities Services is building a distributed ledger platform that will maintain and record mini-bonds issued through the platform. For the effort, BNP is partnering with French crowdfunding startups Enerflip, Lendosphere and Lumo.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
The announcement is the latest that finds the French multinational bank exploring how it could use blockchain to better serve small businesses, following a blockchain-based crowdfunding platform announced in April and an SME lending effort it announced in June along with six other French financial institutions.
In statements to the news source, BNP Paribas Securities Services' Innovation & Digital Lab head of business management Marc Younes said the platform is one that stands to benefit small businesses, while potentially helping standardize mini bond management.
Younes said:
"Blockchain technology is particularly suited to the fundraising needs of private companies as transactions volumes are typically lower than for listed companies."
As part of this drive, BNP Paribas revealed earlier this month that it is seeking to engage more of its employees in its blockchain efforts.
For more on its recently unveiled New York innovation lab, CoinDesk's latest feature on BNP Paribas.
Image credit: Elenarts / Shutterstock.com
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
Silver nears $1 billion in volume on Hyperliquid as bitcoin remains frozen: Asia Morning Briefing
Silver perps have more volume on Hyperliquid than SOL or XRP.
What to know:
- Silver futures on the Hyperliquid crypto derivatives exchange have surged to become one of its most active markets, ranking just behind bitcoin and ether in trading volume.
- The SILVER-USDC contract’s high volume, sizable open interest and slightly negative funding suggest traders are using crypto infrastructure for volatility and hedging in macro commodities rather than for directional crypto bets.
- Bitcoin is holding near $88,000 in a "defensive equilibrium" with cooling ETF inflows, uneven derivatives positioning and rising demand for downside protection, while ether lags and capital rotates toward hard assets like gold and silver.
Top Stories
