Nomura’s Laser Digital Secures Crypto Asset Exchange License in Japan

Laser Digital Japan Co., Ltd. (LDJ) has secured registration as a Crypto Asset Exchange Service Provider under Japan’s Payment Services Act. This regulatory milestone allows the Nomura subsidiary to provide institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure, signaling a significant shift as major financial incumbents move to capture growing institutional demand within the Japanese market.

What was announced

Laser Digital Japan, the local entity of Nomura’s digital assets arm, has completed its formal registration with Japanese regulators. This authorization permits the firm to operate as a licensed exchange service provider, marking the first new entry into the Japanese crypto asset industry since 2022. The move follows a period of significant regulatory reform in Japan, including new frameworks governing stablecoins and digital asset custody.

The firm’s immediate operational focus will be to enhance liquidity for local Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) across the domestic market. Looking ahead, Laser Digital Japan plans to expand its scope to offer institutional investors direct trading opportunities for digital assets. While the specific launch dates and the full breadth of these future services remain under wraps, the company has emphasized that its operations will be built upon the risk management and governance frameworks established by its global parent organization.

The registration comes at a time of shifting sentiment among Japanese professionals. According to the 2026 Institutional Investor Survey published by Nomura and Laser Digital, 65% of institutional respondents now view crypto assets as a viable tool for portfolio diversification. Furthermore, nearly 79% of those interested in diversification indicated plans to invest in the asset class within the next three years, highlighting a clear mandate for the regulated infrastructure Laser Digital Japan intends to provide.

"As institutional appetite for digital assets grows across global markets, sophisticated investors are increasingly looking for access and the necessary quality of infrastructure behind it. This registration reflects our ability to meet regulatory requirements in Japan, building on the track record we have established in other markets. We are fully committed to serving the Japanese market and clients with the same high standards of service we have set in other markets and look forward to actively contributing to the development of the country’s digital assets ecosystem."

Steve Ashley, Co-founder & Executive Chairman of Laser Digital, and Chairman of Laser Digital Japan.

The companies involved

Laser Digital Japan is the dedicated Japanese arm of Laser Digital, which serves as the digital asset subsidiary of Nomura. Nomura is a preeminent global financial services group with a deep-rooted history in the Japanese and international capital markets. By launching Laser Digital, Nomura established a specialized vehicle to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the burgeoning digital asset economy, focusing on trading, asset management, and venture capital.

Laser Digital operates with a mandate to provide institutional-grade services, leveraging the heritage and rigorous compliance standards of its parent company. The firm has been active in establishing a global footprint, seeking licenses in key jurisdictions to serve professional clients who require trusted counterparties. Laser Digital Japan specifically represents the group's strategic push back into its home market, navigating one of the world's most sophisticated and strictly regulated digital asset environments. The leadership team, including Steve Ashley and Dr. Jez Mohideen, brings extensive experience from traditional investment banking into the crypto space, positioning the firm as a hybrid player capable of handling complex institutional requirements.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely followed the strategic expansion of Nomura and its digital asset arm as they deepen their involvement in the blockchain ecosystem. Recently, we reported that ZIGChain Secures Strategic Investment from Nomura’s Laser Digital for Institutional Onchain Finance, highlighting the firm's interest in decentralized infrastructure. Additionally, we have covered the broader corporate activities of the parent group, such as when Nomura Announces Equity Investment into Prismic Life Reinsurance, demonstrating the bank's diversified investment strategy across both emerging tech and traditional insurance sectors.

What this means

This registration is a definitive signal that the "crypto winter" caution in Japan is being replaced by institutional pragmatism. By securing this license, Nomura is not just launching a new product; it is validating the Japanese digital asset market for other conservative institutional players. The fact that LDJ is the first new entrant since 2022 suggests that the regulatory bar remains exceptionally high, giving Nomura a significant first-mover advantage among domestic Tier-1 banks.

Expect to see a tightening of the spread in domestic liquidity as LDJ begins its VASP support operations. The real test, however, will be the rollout of institutional trading. If Nomura can successfully migrate its traditional client base into digital assets, it will place immense pressure on local crypto-native exchanges to upgrade their compliance and reporting standards to match those of a global investment bank.