Laser Digital, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nomura Holdings, is preparing to apply for a cryptocurrency trading license in Japan, according to Bloomberg. The company is currently engaged in preliminary talks with Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) and plans to offer regulated crypto brokerage services exclusively to institutional clients, such as financial institutions and digital asset exchanges.
Jez Mohideen, CEO of Laser Digital, confirmed that the company has initiated early discussions with the FSA ahead of a formal license application. If approved, Laser would bridge traditional finance with digital assets in Japan, providing services including custody, trading, derivatives, and structured products. Nomura, one of Japan's largest investment banks, established Laser Digital to explore the digital asset sector, focusing on institutional solutions, asset management, venture capital, and trading.
This move aligns with Japan's regulatory shifts, as the FSA is updating its crypto framework to treat cryptocurrencies as financial products under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, starting in March 2025, with potential parliamentary approval in 2026. Laser Digital brings experience from other jurisdictions, having secured a temporary license for OTC crypto derivatives from Dubai's Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) in August 2025, as well as broker-dealer and asset management licenses in Abu Dhabi. A Japanese license would position Tokyo as a strategic Asian crypto hub alongside Hong Kong and Dubai.
Unlike retail-focused exchanges like Coincheck or BitFlyer, Laser targets institutional investors, which could attract international clients to Japan's crypto market. However, progress is not guaranteed due to potential regulatory delays, influenced by Japan's strict compliance rules stemming from past incidents like the 2018 Coincheck hack. Success could transform Laser into a key institutional gateway for crypto in Japan, further integrating Nomura's traditional banking with Web3 innovation.
