The National University of Singapore (NUS) has partnered with Northern Trust and UOB to launch a first-of-its-kind initiative that uses blockchain technology to track green bond credentials.
This move aims to increase transparency and trust in ESG (environmental, social, and governance) reporting within the financial sector.
NUS, the first university in Singapore to adopt blockchain for ESG reporting, issued its third green bond in 2023.
Now, through this initiative, information about the bond’s environmental impact will be securely stored and tracked using Northern Trust’s digital assets platform, Matrix Zenith.
The tokenisation process ensures that investors will receive the same complete and tamper-proof data even as the bond changes hands, providing greater confidence in the integrity of the information.
UOB, the bond’s lead arranger, will provide feedback on how this tokenised data can improve investor practices.
This project is part of Project Guardian, an initiative led by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to explore the benefits of asset tokenisation in financial markets.
NUS views this as the first step in a broader strategy to leverage blockchain technology for improved transparency and accountability in sustainable finance.
The university signed a three-year agreement with Northern Trust in November 2024 to further this goal.

Tan Kian Woo, Senior Vice President and Chief Finance Officer at NUS, said,
“We are proud to be leading this first-in-market green bond reporting tokenisation initiative in partnership with Northern Trust and UOB. This project is a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to advancing green finance innovation.
By creating a token that enhances the integrity and transparency of our environmental data, we aim to provide greater confidence to investors, helping them meet their sustainability reporting goals. This is only the beginning, as we continue to push boundaries in sustainable financial practices.”

Edmund Leong, Head of Group Investment Banking at UOB, said,
“At UOB, we are committed to driving sustainable finance solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients.
By participating in this data tokenisation initiative, we aim to provide real-world feedback on the usability of tokenised data, ensuring that it meets the standards required for transparent and reliable sustainability reporting.”
Featured image credit: Edited from Freepik