Overview

• Laser Digital is in preliminary discussions with Japan’s Financial Services Agency to seek a crypto asset trading license for institutional business, and no application has been filed yet.
• CEO Jez Mohideen says the license would allow broker-dealer services for banks, traditional asset managers, and crypto exchanges operating in Japan.
• Japan’s crypto transaction values doubled to ¥33.7 trillion ($230 billion) in the first seven months of 2025, according to JVCEA data.
• The Nomura unit already holds a full crypto license in Dubai and established a Japanese operation in 2023.
• Nomura has cited Laser’s underperformance in a July European loss, while the unit continues to launch institutional funds and explore stablecoin initiatives with GMO.