Laser Digital Japan Co., Ltd. has completed its registration as a Crypto Asset Exchange Service Provider under Japan’s Payment Services Act, the first new approval of its kind in roughly four years. The Tokyo-based entity, part of Nomura’s digital asset subsidiary Laser Digital, announced the milestone on August 21, 2026, and is registered with the Director-General of the Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Registration No. 00032).
Rather than immediately launching a broad consumer platform, the firm will first provide liquidity services to existing domestic virtual asset service providers, aiming to improve market depth and efficiency for local operators. Laser Digital Japan said it later plans to expand into digital asset trading opportunities designed specifically for institutional investors, although it has not yet disclosed a timeline or full product scope.
The approval follows Japan’s July 2026 decision to reclassify cryptocurrencies as financial instruments, with new rules under that framework expected to take effect in 2027. Laser Digital executives framed the registration as part of a maturing market. Co-founder and Executive Chairman Steve Ashley emphasized growing global demand among sophisticated investors for high-quality infrastructure and access. CEO Jez Mohideen said Japan’s digital assets market is entering a new phase of maturity, with institutional investors increasing their interest and requiring trusted counterparties. Hideaki Kudo, Representative Director and Head of Laser Digital Japan, called the completion of the regulatory review an important step and reaffirmed commitment to compliance and investor protection.
The company also cited a joint 2026 Institutional Investor Survey by Nomura and Laser Digital, in which 65 percent of respondents viewed crypto assets as a diversification opportunity and nearly 79 percent planned to invest within three years. Laser Digital Japan is a member of the Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association.
