Laser Digital Teams Up with ZIGChain on Regulated Blockchain Lending

Nomura's digital asset subsidiary Laser Digital has partnered with ZIGChain, a Layer 1 blockchain focused on regulated real-world asset tokenization in the UAE. The partnership aims to bridge conventional finance with blockchain by tokenizing private credit for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

According to Dr. Jez Mohideen, CEO of Laser Digital, this collaboration is centered in the UAE, where both firms operate under a regulatory framework that supports institutional digital asset activity. ZIGChain's ecosystem fund has reportedly crossed $100M, with partnerships established with licensed entities like Beehive and ABHI.

The partnership between Laser Digital and ZIGChain matters because of Nomura's reputation as a multi-decade-old Japanese financial institution with significant regulatory compliance. This marks an institutional push for tokenized finance in emerging markets, particularly in the SME lending space where traditional banking has struggled to provide adequate solutions.