Nomura-Backed Exchange Launches with SHIB and Blue-Chip Assets

Japan's crypto market has welcomed its first new exchange in four years after Nomura's Laser Digital Japan secured approval. The platform, backed by Nomura, now offers six assets to trade, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Shiba Inu (SHIB). SHIB is the only meme coin on the list and has seen a significant increase in its global reach.

The approval process for Laser Digital Japan was rigorous, making its inclusion alongside blue-chip assets a meaningful regulatory endorsement. This move follows SHIB's listing on the Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association Green List in November 2025.

The launch of Laser Digital Japan has been met with increased burn activity, peaking at 41 million tokens between Aug. 22 and 23. The burns are dominated by Robinhood transfers to the dead wallet, indicating a shift towards consistent small-to-mid-size burns rather than a single large event.