Nasdaq on Monday announced a partnership with Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, to develop infrastructure for tokenized financial assets — a move that signals growing institutional interest in bringing traditional securities onto blockchain networks.

The collaboration aims to position the exchange operator at the center of an emerging market for blockchain-based equities and digital financial instruments, as global exchanges and fintech firms race to build systems that allow traditional assets to be traded in tokenized form.

Tokenization refers to the conversion of financial assets — including stocks, bonds, bank deposits, funds, and even real estate — into digital tokens that can be issued and traded on blockchain networks. The technology allows assets to move more quickly between investors and could potentially enable continuous trading outside traditional market hours.

Exchanges race toward blockchain markets

Under the partnership, Nasdaq plans to integrate Payward’s xStocks platform into its infrastructure, enabling institutional clients to move securities from traditional trading systems onto blockchain networks.

The initiative is seen as part of a broader push by major exchanges to modernize financial market infrastructure using distributed ledger technology.

In September, Nasdaq sought approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to allow certain securities to trade in either traditional digital form or tokenized form, a proposal that would give market participants the flexibility to settle transactions on blockchain networks.

The project also aligns with regulatory momentum in the United States following the passage of the GENIUS Act last year, which accelerated institutional adoption of digital asset infrastructure and opened the door for further regulatory frameworks governing tokenized securities.

Other major exchanges are pursuing similar strategies. Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, said earlier this year that it is seeking regulatory approval for a blockchain-based platform that would allow 24-hour trading and on-chain settlement of tokenized securities.

Several fintech platforms have already begun testing the concept internationally. Companies including Robinhood, Gemini, and Kraken have launched tokenized stocks in European markets, while Coinbase and blockchain startup Dinari are pursuing approval to offer similar products in the United States.

Toward an “always-on” financial system

Nasdaq’s latest partnerships suggest the exchange sees tokenization not simply as a cryptocurrency experiment but as a structural shift in how financial markets may operate.

In addition to its agreement with Payward, Nasdaq said it is collaborating with Boerse Stuttgart to integrate its tokenized settlement platform, enabling trading of blockchain-based equities across European markets.

The initiative will initially focus on corporate actions and shareholder services, including proxy voting, dividend processing, and shareholder engagement — areas where blockchain-based records could improve efficiency and transparency.

Tal Cohen, president of Nasdaq, said tokenization could reshape market access and investor interaction with publicly traded companies.

“Tokenization has the potential to unlock the benefits of an always-on financial ecosystem — enhancing how investors access markets, how issuers engage with shareholders,” Cohen said.

Crypto debate continues among investors

Despite growing institutional interest in blockchain infrastructure, investor sentiment toward cryptocurrencies remains divided.

The price of Bitcoin has hovered around levels seen before the 2024 election victory of Donald Trump, reflecting ongoing debate about the role of digital assets in diversified portfolios.

Supporters argue that tokenization could modernize financial markets by enabling faster settlement, reducing intermediaries, and allowing fractional ownership of assets. Skeptics, however, question whether blockchain technology offers meaningful advantages over existing financial systems and warn that regulatory uncertainties could slow adoption.

For major exchanges like Nasdaq, the strategy appears to be one of preparation rather than speculation — building infrastructure now in anticipation of a future where tokenized securities may coexist alongside traditional financial assets.

Average yields on Nigeria’s sovereign bonds climbed in the latest trading week as cautious investor sentiment, thin market liquidity, and a broader global bond selloff combined to push returns higher across much of the yield curve.

Data released Monday by the Financial Markets Dealers Association showed the average yield on Federal Government of Nigeria Bonds rose to 16.13%, up from 15.46% two weeks earlier.

The increase underscores how Nigeria’s domestic debt market is being influenced by global financial turbulence and shifting investor expectations about interest rates, inflation, and geopolitical risks. While trading volumes in the local market remained subdued, investors demanded higher returns for holding government debt, particularly at the short end of the maturity spectrum.

Sharp Repricing At The Short End Of The Curve

Movements across Nigeria’s sovereign yield curve were mixed but revealed a clear pattern of rising short-term yields. The one-year FGN bond yield surged to 19.76% from 16.00%, representing the steepest increase across all maturities and reflecting heightened demand for risk compensation on near-term government debt.

Intermediate maturities also recorded increases. The five-year bond yield rose to 16.02% from 15.78%, while the seven-year yield climbed to 15.86% from 15.59%.

However, some longer-dated securities moved in the opposite direction. The three-year yield dipped slightly to 15.61% from 15.74%, while the 30-year bond yield eased to 14.16% from 14.28%. The benchmark 10-year yield held steady at 15.38%.

The divergence suggests that investors are adjusting portfolio duration strategically rather than exiting the market entirely. Stronger pressure at the short end of the curve indicates that investors are demanding greater compensation for near-term risks such as liquidity constraints, fiscal borrowing needs, and monetary policy uncertainty.

Nigeria’s short-term government securities also reflected shifting investor sentiment. Yields on Nigerian Treasury Bills rose across several key tenors, signaling that money-market participants are increasingly cautious about locking funds into government instruments at current rates.

The 12-month Treasury bill yield climbed to 19.01% from 18.33%, while the nine-month tenor edged up to 18.26% from 18.17%. The six-month bill increased to 17.20% from 17.08%.

As a result, the overall average Treasury bill yield rose to 17.40% from 17.25%.

Shorter tenors recorded marginal declines. The one-month and three-month bills slipped slightly to 16.26% and 16.25%, respectively, compared with 16.31% and 16.34% previously.

The pattern suggests investors remain comfortable with very short-dated instruments but are increasingly demanding higher returns for locking in funds beyond the immediate term.

This cautious positioning comes after strong demand for Treasury bills earlier in the year, following recent interest-rate adjustments and liquidity conditions in the banking system.

Global Bond Selloff Shapes Local Yields

Nigeria’s bond market is also reacting to a broader repricing in global fixed-income markets. Yields on the U.S. 10?Year Treasury Note rose to about 4.09% from 4.02%, reflecting rising inflation concerns and shifting expectations for monetary policy in the United States.

In Europe, the UK 10?Year Gilt climbed to around 4.50% from 4.30%.

Emerging markets recorded even sharper movements. South Africa’s 10-year government bond yield jumped to 8.28% from 7.90%, highlighting rising risk premiums for developing economies.

In Asia, the increase was more modest. Japan’s 10-year yield edged up to 2.13%, while China’s equivalent yield declined slightly to 1.78%.

Across Africa, Kenya’s 10-year government bond yield remained broadly stable at around 11.50%.

The synchronized rise in yields across multiple markets reflects a global shift in investor sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions, volatile energy prices, and evolving central bank policies.

What It Means For Nigeria’s Debt Market

For Nigeria, rising yields carry both opportunities and risks. Higher yields can attract foreign portfolio investors seeking elevated returns in emerging markets, particularly if the naira stabilizes and inflation moderates.

However, the trend also raises borrowing costs for the government at a time when fiscal pressures remain significant, and debt servicing already consumes a large share of federal revenue.

The direction of yields in the coming weeks will likely depend on several factors, including liquidity conditions in the banking system, expectations around policy decisions by the Central Bank of Nigeria, and global investor appetite for emerging-market assets.

If global bond markets continue to experience volatility — particularly amid rising energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty — Nigeria’s domestic fixed-income market may face further upward pressure on yields.

Japan’s long-awaited wage recovery showed fresh momentum in January, with real wages rising for the first time in more than a year as pay growth accelerated and inflation eased.

The shift offers a significant signal for policymakers at the Bank of Japan, which is attempting to steer the world’s third-largest economy away from decades of ultra-loose monetary policy.

Government data released Monday showed inflation-adjusted real wages rose 1.4% from a year earlier in January, reversing a 0.1% decline in December and marking the first annual increase in 13 months. The rise indicates that household purchasing power has finally begun to recover after prolonged pressure from rising living costs.

The improvement comes at a critical moment for the Japanese economy. After years of stagnation in pay growth, policymakers have been looking for clear evidence that wage gains are strong enough to support consumer spending and sustain inflation near the central bank’s 2% target.

Nominal wages — measured as total cash earnings — rose 3.0% year-on-year to an average of 301,314 yen ($1,911), the fastest pace since July and an acceleration from December’s 2.4% increase. The gains were broad-based across compensation categories, suggesting an improvement in corporate willingness to raise pay.

Regular wages, or base salaries, increased 3.0%, the strongest growth since October 1992. Overtime pay climbed 3.3%, up sharply from a revised 1.5% increase the previous month and marking its fastest pace in roughly three years. Special payments, largely made up of bonuses, rose 3.8%, up from December’s revised 2.7%.

Cooling inflation helps wages turn positive

A key factor allowing wages to outpace prices was moderating inflation. Consumer prices used in calculating real wages rose 1.7% in January, the slowest pace since March 2022. Government fuel subsidies and fewer food price increases helped ease inflationary pressure, allowing nominal pay growth to translate into real income gains for households.

The development is particularly important for Japan, where consumer spending accounts for more than half of economic activity. For much of the past two years, rising prices outpaced wage increases, eroding purchasing power and weakening consumption.

A sustained rise in real wages could therefore provide an important boost to domestic demand at a time when global economic uncertainty remains elevated.

The wage data also arrives during Japan’s annual spring labor negotiations, a critical event that shapes pay increases across the corporate sector.

Rengo, the country’s largest labor union confederation, said last week that its member unions are seeking an average wage increase of 5.94% this year. The demand follows an average 5.25% wage increase secured in 2025 — the largest rise in 34 years.

Those negotiations, known as “shunto,” are closely monitored by policymakers because they signal whether wage increases will spread beyond large corporations to smaller firms that employ the majority of Japanese workers.

If wage gains broaden across the economy, they could reinforce a virtuous cycle in which higher incomes support stronger consumption, which in turn encourages businesses to continue raising pay.

Policy implications for the Bank of Japan

The improving wage picture strengthens the case for further monetary tightening by the Bank of Japan, which has begun cautiously dismantling the aggressive stimulus policies that defined its approach for much of the past decade.

The central bank raised its policy rate to 0.75% in December — still extremely low by global standards but a notable shift for a country that spent years operating under negative interest rates.

Officials have repeatedly said that sustained wage growth is the key condition for further rate increases. Without rising incomes, inflation could fade once temporary price pressures ease.

The January data arrives just days before the BOJ’s next policy meeting on March 18–19, when policymakers will assess whether economic conditions justify additional tightening.

While a rate hike at the upcoming meeting remains uncertain, the return of positive real wage growth strengthens the argument that Japan’s economy may finally be moving toward a more stable cycle of rising wages, moderate inflation, and gradually higher interest rates.

Such a shift would mark a major turning point for a country that has spent decades battling deflation, stagnant wages, and chronically weak consumer demand.

Anthropic on Monday filed a lawsuit seeking to block the Pentagon from placing the artificial intelligence company on a national security blacklist, intensifying a high-stakes confrontation between one of the United States’ leading AI developers and the country’s defense establishment.

The startup argued in its filing in federal court in California that the designation was unlawful and violated constitutional protections, including free speech and due process rights. The complaint asks a judge to overturn the decision and stop federal agencies from enforcing it.

“These actions are unprecedented and unlawful. The Constitution does not allow the government to wield its enormous power to punish a company for its protected speech,” Anthropic said in its filing.

The legal move signals a sharp escalation in a dispute that has simmered for months between the Pentagon and the company over limits on how its AI systems can be used in military operations. Negotiations broke down after Anthropic refused to remove safeguards that restrict the use of its models for autonomous weapons systems and domestic surveillance.

The Pentagon last week formally labeled Anthropic a supply-chain risk, a designation that restricts the use of its flagship Claude models in Defense Department contracts. Two sources familiar with the issue told Reuters that Claude had previously been used in military operations tied to U.S. activities involving Iran, raising concerns inside the Pentagon about the potential operational impact of Anthropic’s restrictions.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the designation after concluding that the company’s guardrails could limit the military’s ability to deploy AI tools for lawful defense missions. The Pentagon has insisted that the government — not private technology firms — must retain authority to determine how artificial intelligence is used in national security operations.

The clash highlights the growing tension between Silicon Valley’s emerging AI industry and Washington’s push to integrate advanced AI systems into military and intelligence capabilities. As the United States accelerates efforts to compete with China in artificial intelligence, the dispute underscores how questions about ethics, autonomy, and operational control are beginning to shape national security policy.

Anthropic’s decision to sue appears to represent a last-resort step after negotiations with the Pentagon collapsed. Company officials have said they remain open to renewed discussions, but the litigation effectively moves the dispute into the courts and risks hardening positions on both sides.

The legal action also threatens to broaden the standoff beyond the Defense Department. President Donald Trump wrote in a social media post that the federal government should stop using Claude entirely, a directive that could affect multiple civilian agencies if implemented.

Anthropic has filed a second lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, challenging a separate designation under a broader supply-chain security law that could lead to the company being blacklisted across the federal government. The scope of that measure is still unclear and will depend on the outcome of an interagency review.

Chief Executive Dario Amodei has long positioned Anthropic as both supportive of national security partnerships and cautious about the current limits of AI technology. He has said the company is not fundamentally opposed to AI-enabled weapons but believes today’s systems remain too unreliable for fully autonomous use.

Anthropic has drawn a firm line against domestic surveillance of Americans and against removing safeguards designed to prevent its models from being used in fully autonomous weapons systems. The company argues that the risks of misidentification, hallucinations, and unpredictable behavior in current AI systems make such uses dangerous.

The Pentagon, however, maintains that operational flexibility is essential and has argued that restrictions imposed by a private company could endanger U.S. personnel if they constrain lawful defense capabilities.

The standoff is unfolding at a moment when AI companies are racing to secure lucrative government contracts. Over the past year, the Defense Department has signed agreements worth up to $200 million with several major AI developers, including Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google.

Shortly after the Pentagon’s move against Anthropic, Microsoft-backed OpenAI announced an agreement to deploy its technology within the Defense Department’s network. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman said the company shared the Pentagon’s principles of maintaining human oversight over weapon systems and opposing mass domestic surveillance.

For Anthropic, the designation could pose a serious business risk even if its direct scope remains limited. Some partners and corporate customers could pause deployments of Claude until the legal and regulatory uncertainties are resolved.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said the dispute could ripple through the enterprise AI market.

“This could have a ripple impact for Anthropic and Claude potentially on the enterprise front over the coming months as some enterprises could go pencils down on Claude deployments while this all gets settled in the courts,” Ives said.

Investors in Anthropic have also been scrambling to manage the fallout, according to people familiar with the matter, as the company’s fight with the Pentagon raises questions about its future role in government technology projects.

The legal battle now unfolding could help define how AI developers negotiate limits on military use of their technology — and how far the U.S. government can go in pressuring private companies to relax those restrictions.

With Anthropic challenging the designation in two courts and the Pentagon defending its authority over national security procurement, the confrontation has moved beyond negotiations into a potentially precedent-setting fight over the role of artificial intelligence in modern warfare.