Nomura's Crypto Arm Wins Approval for Japan Trading
Nomura's crypto arm, Laser Digital Japan, has secured regulatory approval to offer liquidity and institutional trading for Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP, and other assets in Japan.
The company will initially provide liquidity to local crypto operators, with plans to offer digital asset trading to institutional investors at a later stage.
Japan's financial regulators have been strict on new market participants, with a four-year hiatus in registrations. Laser Digital Japan is now registered as a Crypto Asset Exchange Service Provider under the Payment Services Act, completing the registration with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau under number 00032.
The company has chosen an infrastructure-focused approach, providing liquidity to virtual asset service providers already operating within the country before expanding services directly to institutions. This move is expected to improve local market depth and facilitate the execution of larger orders, a critical requirement for institutional participants.