Odaily News Britain plans to start issuing digital government bonds within the next two years, with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves expected to announce a trial digital bond issuance in a speech at Mansion House in the City of London on Thursday, according to people familiar with the matter. The chancellor is understood to have traditionally used the forum to announce policies in support of the financial industry. The New Labour government is working to modernize financial markets and is using blockchain technology to "tokenize" government debt, hoping the move will make government bond trading faster and cheaper. The digital transformation comes as the British government embarks on a £297 billion ($382 billion) borrowing program, the second largest in history, with sales expected to remain high in the coming years. People familiar with the matter said legislation may need to be submitted to Parliament for blockchain-based sales to proceed. The U.K. Treasury declined to comment. (Bloomberg)