Nomura-Backed Laser Digital Becomes Japan's First New Crypto Exchange in Four Years
Laser Digital, backed by Japan's largest investment bank Nomura, has become the first new crypto exchange in four years to be registered in Japan. The company announced its registration under Japan's Payment Services Act on August 21, marking a significant milestone for the country's digital assets market.
The registration allows Laser Digital to operate as a crypto asset exchange service provider, providing liquidity services to domestic virtual asset service providers and eventually offering direct trading to institutional investors. This move comes after Japan reclassified cryptocurrencies as financial instruments in July, bringing them under the same regulatory category as securities.
Jez Mohideen, co-founder and CEO of Laser Digital, said 'Japan's digital assets market is entering a new phase of maturity.' The company's initial focus will be on providing liquidity services, but it plans to expand its offerings to institutional investors in the future. Nomura's backing and its own infrastructure make Laser Digital well-positioned to meet growing demand from sophisticated investors.