Nomura Subsidiary Laser Digital Seeks Japan Crypto Trading License

Bloomberg stated that Laser Digital, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nomura Holdings is getting ready to apply to a cryptocurrency trading license in Japan. The company is to offer the services of crypto brokerage to institutional clients, such as financial institutions and digital asset exchanges.

据彭博社，野村控股全资子公司 Laser Digital 正在筹备申请日本加密交易牌照，计划面向机构客户提供相关服务。该公司首席执行官 Jez Mohideen 表示，Laser 目前正在与日本金融厅（FSA）进行前期咨询。如果获批，Laser…

— 吴说区块链 (@wublockchain12) October 3, 2025

Early Talks With Japan’s FSA

Jez Mohideen, the CEO of Laser Digital, added that the company has been holding preliminary talks with the Financial Services Agency (FSA) in Japan. This is done prior to a formal license application. Should Laser be granted permission, it will provide regulated crypto brokerage, one that connects the world of traditional finance and digital assets in Japan.

One of the biggest investment banks in Japan, Nomura, initiated Laser Digital to venture into digital assets. The subsidiary deals with institutional solutions, asset management, venture capital, and trading. Laser is trying to merge the conventional finance skills of Nomura and crypto innovation by getting approval in Japan.

Japan’s Regulatory Shift

FSA is in the process of updating its crypto framework. The agency intends to regulate crypto assets as financial products in accordance with the Financial Intruments and Exchange Act in March 2025, according to Reuters. It could become a bill in parliament in 2026. These reforms make the institutional adoption of cryptos friendlier in Japan. Nevertheless, the reputation of Nomura, and experience of Laser in dealing with regulators in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, enhances its prospects.

Laser Digital is a global company. In August 2025, the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) of Dubai licensed the company with a temporary license of OTC crypto derivatives. It also gained a license in Abu Dhabi in the fields of broker-dealer and asset management. Japanese license would provide the Japanese with an important Asian hub.

Institutional Focus

Laser is institution-oriented, unlike other retail-oriented exchanges like Coincheck and BitFlyer. Examples of services are the custody, trading, derivatives and structured products. With FSA approval, Laser would be able to lure international institutional customers to the Japanese crypto market. Japan has very strict compliance rules which are dictated by the historical scandals such as the 2018 Coincheck hack. The progress might not be guaranteed because regulatory delays might slack.

Provided the success, Laser Digital might be an institutional gateway to crypto in Japan. The relocation can make Tokyo a crypto hub in Asia, alongside Hong Kong and Dubai. To Nomura, it is another move towards integrating old-fashioned banking with the Web3 innovation.