Nomura-backed Laser Digital wins Japan's first crypto approval in four years
Laser Digital Japan will offer liquidity to domestic crypto providers, with institutional trading services planned to follow as the appetite for crypto in Japan grows.
Laser Digital, backed by Nomura, became the first new crypto asset exchange service provider registered in Japan in four years, marking its entry into the country’s digital-asset market.
The firm will initially provide liquidity services to domestic virtual-asset service providers and plans to expand into digital-asset trading for institutional investors at a later date.
Japan recently reclassified cryptocurrencies as financial instruments, paving the way for potential crypto ETFs and new tax treatment from 2027, as institutional demand for digital assets continues to grow.
Laser Digital became the first new entrant into Japan's crypto industry in four years after its local subsidiary secured registration as a crypto asset exchange service provider just as the country prepares to bring crypto under a financial-instruments framework.
The firm will initially offer liquidity services to domestic virtual-asset service providers, the company said Friday. It plans to expand into digital-asset trading opportunities for institutional investors, though a launch date and the full scope of those services have not been announced. The firm announced its plans to expand its crypto offering in Japan late last year.
Laser Digital is backed by Nomura, Japan's largest investment bank. Institutional demand for digital assets in the country is growing. A 2026 survey by Nomura and Laser Digital found that 79% of respondents planned to invest in crypto assets within the next three years.
"Japan's digital assets market is entering a new phase of maturity," said Jez Mohideen, co-founder and CEO of Laser Digital. "As institutional investors increase their interest in this asset class, there remains a need for trusted counterparties and infrastructure designed specifically for their requirements."
Japan reclassified cryptocurrencies as financial instruments a month ago, a structural shift that established the legal framework for potential crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and separate taxation of crypto assets. The new rules are expected to take effect in 2027.
Steve Ashley, co-founder and executive chairman of Laser Digital, said the timing reflected a broader global shift. "Sophisticated investors are increasingly looking for access and the necessary quality of infrastructure behind it."
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