Allianz Tests Blockchain to Boost Catastrophe Bond Trades

Germany-based insurance giant Allianz has tested how blockchain-based smart contracts could be used to handle catastrophe swaps and bonds.

AccessTimeIconJun 15, 2016 at 2:48 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 11, 2021 at 12:19 p.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

Germany-based insurance giant Allianz has reported it has successfully used blockchain-based smart contracts to handle catastrophe swaps and bonds, adding that the technology could boost marketability of the financial instruments.

"Cat swaps" and bonds are tradable instruments that allow insurers to guard against huge potential losses following a major catastrophe, and which are triggered under predefined parameters.

However, the payments between insurers and investors can drag on for weeks or months after a disaster. Automating the process via smart contract technology, though, has the potential to reduce that time to as low as a few hours, the organization said.

The trial – which was carried out in partnership with investment management firm Nephila – demonstrated that transaction processing and settlement of funds between insurers and investors can be "significantly accelerated and simplified" by using blockchain smart contracts.

The firm cited other benefits of the trial, too, including the increased marketability of the swaps and opportunities to use the smart contracts in other insurance transactions.

Richard Boyd, chief underwriting officer at Allianz Risk Transfer, said:

"Blockchain technology will increase reliability, controllability and speed for both cat swaps and cat bonds because less manual processing, authentication and verification is needed through intermediaries to confirm the legitimacy of payments [and] transactions [to] and from the investors."

"By replacing manual operations, which are currently embedded across the entire process, delays and the risks of human error are ruled out," Boyd continued.

The news is the latest in a number of announcements in recent months that see large insurers starting to investigate blockchain technology.

Just this week, PwC said it would sponsor research into the blockchain's potential in the wholesale insurance industry, as well as the creation of a proof-of-concept prototype. Further, in April, insurance provider John Hancock began work on proofs-of-concept using blockchain in partnership with ConsenSys Enterprise and BlockApps.

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.