Nomura targets crypto trading in Japan through Laser Digital crypto license

Japan’s largest investment bank, Nomura Holdings, is looking to enter the cryptocurrency trading market via its wholly owned subsidiary Laser Digital Holdings. Laser Digital Holdings is reportedly looking to acquire a crypto trading license in Japan, according to statements from Chief Executive Officer Jez Mohideen. The Switzerland-based firm is in pre-consultation talks with Japan’s Financial Services Agency, and if approved, will begin offering crypto trading services to institutional clients in the country. The timing of Laser Digital’s push into Japan is no coincidence, especially as local crypto trading volumes have soared over the past months, with data from the Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association showing that total transaction value doubled to over 33 trillion yen, or roughly 230 billion dollars, in just the first seven months of the year. Regulations within Japan have gradually begun to favour digital asset development, encouraging deeper participation from both domestic and international financial institutions. Policymakers are reportedly working on proposals to ease the tax burden on crypto holdings and improve the framework for investment vehicles focused on digital assets. Anticipated reforms, including potential tax cuts and relaxed rules for crypto-focused investment funds, are making Japan an increasingly attractive destination for institutional players. Financial firms that were previously hesitant due to regulatory uncertainty are now reconsidering their stance. For instance, Daiwa Securities, Japan’s second-largest brokerage, recently started allowing its retail clients to use Bitcoin and Ether as collateral for yen loans, and the same receptiveness towards crypto can be seen at Nomura as it looks to expand its digital asset footprint through Laser Digital. “Our entry into Japan reflects our optimism in the Japanese digital-asset ecosystem,” Mohideen said. Nomura’s history with crypto For Nomura, this is not its first foray into digital assets, as its crypto ambitions date back to 2020 with the launch of Komainu, a crypto custody provider developed in partnership with Ledger and CoinShares. Nomura further expanded its crypto market presence in 2022 with the creation of Laser Digital, a subsidiary focused on asset management, venture capital, and trading solutions within the blockchain and crypto ecosystem. Since then, Laser has rolled out investment products tailored for institutional investors, including a Bitcoin adoption fund and, more recently, a NEAR protocol fund that offers staking-based returns through an AI-focused blockchain. Although Laser Digital has faced some setbacks this year, including a quarterly loss that Nomura attributed in part to the unit’s underperformance in Europe, the firm has continued to invest in long-term digital asset strategies. Stablecoin push in Japan Amidst this backdrop, Japan is also looking to focus its efforts towards encouraging the development of yen-backed stablecoins to challenge the dominance of the US dollar-pegged alternatives like USDT and USDC. Tokyo-based financial company Monex Group is reportedly working on one such stablecoin, while Japan Post Bank is also expected to launch a stablecoin, but on a private blockchain, by 2026. The post Nomura targets crypto trading in Japan through Laser Digital crypto license appeared first on Invezz