Shiba Inu (SHIB) has achieved a historic regulatory milestone in Japan after Nomura-backed Laser Digital Japan included the meme coin among only six approved cryptocurrencies supported by its newly registered platform.
Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) approved the registration of Laser Digital Japan on Aug. 21, 2026. This was the first new crypto exchange license issued by the Japanese regulator in four years, underscoring the strict compliance standards required to enter the market.
The new platform's conservative listing lineup includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and Shiba Inu. SHIB's inclusion was made possible by its presence on the Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association's (JVCEA) "Green List," which allows local platforms to list vetted tokens through a simplified procedure.
Rather than operating as a traditional retail exchange, Laser Digital Japan will initially provide wholesale liquidity to local crypto platforms before opening trading access to corporations and investment funds. This positions Shiba Inu as a regulated financial instrument tied to institutional capital in one of Asia's strictest markets.
The move builds on strong retail adoption earlier in 2026. In April, e-commerce giant Rakuten opened token trading to its 44-million-user ecosystem and 5 million merchant locations, while marketplace Mercari rolled out SHIB trading to 24 million active users via its Mercoin unit. Those campaigns onboarded millions of new users, with 85% having no prior digital asset experience.
