Nomura Holdings, Japan's financial services giant, is considering the sale of its cryptocurrency subsidiary, Laser Digital. The move comes as Nomura's European operations continue to struggle, posting a pretax loss of 7.4 billion yen ($46.5 million) in the quarter ended September 30, 2026. This marks the fourth consecutive quarterly loss for the region, while other reporting regions saw pretax profits. Nomura has held talks with potential buyers, including Marex Group, but has yet to make a final decision.
Laser Digital, established in 2022, offers institutional cryptocurrency trading, asset management, and venture investment services. The company recently secured Japan's first new crypto exchange license in four years, allowing it to expand its institutional crypto trading services in the country. Additionally, Laser Digital has been pursuing expansion in the United States, receiving preliminary approval for a proposed national trust bank in May 2026.
During a January 2026 earnings call, Nomura's chief financial officer Hiroyuki Moriuchi stated that the company would reduce its cryptocurrency trading positions to limit short-term volatility while continuing to expand Laser Digital over the medium to long term. The potential sale of Laser Digital comes amid ongoing financial challenges for Nomura's European operations.