Japan Approves Laser Digital Japan Amid Growing Institutional Demand
Laser Digital Japan has become the first new crypto exchange to receive registration in Japan since 2022, marking a significant milestone for the industry. The company, backed by Nomura, received approval as a Crypto Asset Exchange Service Provider under Japan's Payment Services Act on August 21, 2026.
The firm will initially provide liquidity services to domestic virtual asset service providers before expanding into institutional trading. This move comes as Japanese institutional investors increasingly view crypto assets as a portfolio diversification tool, with nearly 65% of respondents in the Nomura survey seeing them this way and almost 79% planning to invest within three years.
'This registration reflects our ability to meet regulatory requirements in Japan, building on the track record we have established in other markets,' said Steve Ashley, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Laser Digital. The company's approval arrives after four years of regulatory reforms across Japan's digital asset sector, which include new rules covering stablecoins and reclassifying crypto assets as financial instruments.