New Institutional Crypto Gateway
Nomura's Laser Digital Secures Regulatory Approval to Launch Crypto Services in Japan
Key Points
Laser Digital Japan received registration number Kanto Local Finance Bureau Director No. 00032, marking the first new crypto asset exchange service provider registration in Japan since 2022.
The registration confirms support for six assets: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP, Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTC), and Shiba Inu (SHIB).
Laser Digital has a global institutional track record, including the Bitcoin Adoption Fund (launched in 2023) and a Bitcoin yield fund for institutional investors launched in January 2026.
Japan’s regulatory landscape is undergoing a broad overhaul of cryptocurrency rules and tax treatment, as Parliament moved to establish a more structured framework to attract institutional participants.
A joint Nomura-Laser Digital survey indicates strong institutional appetite in Japan: 65% of institutions view crypto as a diversification tool and 79% plan to invest in crypto over the next three years.
Laser Digital Japan, the crypto subsidiary of Japan's largest investment bank Nomura, has won approval to operate as a regulated digital asset exchange. The company received registration number Kanto Local Finance Bureau Director No. 00032, making it Crypto News Japan's first new crypto exchange service provider in roughly four years. The milestone opens the door for Laser Digital to supply liquidity to local crypto providers and eventually serve institutional investors in Japan.
The registration clears Laser Digital to trade six digital assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and Shiba Inu. The approval arrives as Japan overhaulds its crypto rulebook to attract institutional money. A joint Nomura-Laser Digital survey found Crypto Briefing that 65% of Japanese institutions view crypto as a diversification tool and 79% plan to invest in digital assets within three years.
Nomura's First Major Crypto Licensing Win in Japan
Bloomberg Bit reported that Laser Digital Japan completed registration with Japan's Financial Services Agency. The company is Nomura Holdings' digital assets division, which now operates a regulated crypto business in its home market. This marks the first new approval of its kind since 2022.
Nomura is Japan's largest investment bank. Launching a licensed crypto arm signals the firm's confidence that digital assets are moving mainstream. CryptoNews.net noted this positions Laser Digital to capture Japan's institutional crypto demand.
Laser Digital's Global Track Record Strengthens Japan Entry
Laser Digital already manages institutional crypto products globally. The company launched its Bitcoin Adoption Fund in 2023 and rolled out a Bitcoin yield fund for institutions in January 2026. These offerings show the firm can build compliant, professional-grade crypto infrastructure.
Japan's regulators demanded strict standards. CryptoBriefing explained that Laser Digital's international experience helped it meet Japan's regulatory bar. The company plans to start by supplying liquidity to local virtual asset providers, then expand to direct institutional trading.
Japan Rewrites Crypto Rules to Attract Institutions
Japan's Parliament is rewriting cryptocurrency regulations from the ground up. The new framework aims to clarify tax treatment and operating rules for digital assets. Officials want to draw institutional investors who have largely stayed on the sidelines.
This regulatory refresh explains why Laser Digital's timing matters. CryptoNews.net pointed out that clearer rules lower risk for big investors. Japan hopes that moves like Laser Digital's approval will prove it welcomes regulated crypto players and can compete with other global financial hubs.
What Comes Next for Laser Digital Japan
The company has not yet announced a launch date or detailed product list. Bloomberg Bit reported that Laser Digital plans to announce timing and service details later. The initial focus is supplying liquidity to other local crypto platforms.
Executives Steve Ashley and Dr. Jez Mohideen emphasized that the registration proves Laser Digital can meet Japan's demanding standards. Their approval signals that a tier-one global bank now sees regulated crypto as core to its future in Japan.
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