Laser Digital Shatters Four-Year Crypto Freeze in Japan

Laser Digital has become Japan's first new crypto service provider in four years after securing registration as part of the country's shift towards a financial-instruments framework.

The approval allows Laser Digital to operate through its local subsidiary and marks a significant milestone for Japan, which is reclassifying cryptocurrencies as financial instruments. This change will bring digital assets under stricter oversight and pave the way for potential crypto ETFs and separate taxation.

Laser Digital plans to offer liquidity services to domestic virtual-asset service providers before expanding into digital-asset trading opportunities for institutional investors. The firm is backed by Nomura, Japan's largest investment bank, which has seen growing interest in digital assets among institutions.

A 2026 survey conducted by Nomura and Laser Digital found that 79% of respondents planned to invest in crypto assets within three years, underscoring the appetite for regulated exposure. Co-founder and CEO Jez Mohideen said Japan's digital-assets market is entering a new stage, emphasizing the need for trusted counterparties and infrastructure tailored to institutional requirements.