Nomura’s Laser Digital Secures Approval as Japan Ends Four-Year Crypto Exchange License Freeze
Laser Digital Japan, the digital asset subsidiary of Nomura Group, has officially completed its registration with the Director-General of the Kanto Local Finance Bureau to operate as a crypto asset exchange service provider. The milestone ends a four-year hiatus in new exchange registrations in Japan, marking the country's first new license approval since 2022.
As an officially registered member of the Japan Virtual and Crypto assets Exchange Association (JVCEA), the entity plans to focus initially on providing liquidity solutions to local Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). Subsequent phases will expand offerings to institutional trading opportunities, with specific launch dates and service scopes to be disclosed at a later time.
The regulatory approval lands as Japanese institutional sentiment toward digital assets shifts significantly. According to a joint 2026 survey published by Nomura and Laser Digital, 65% of surveyed Japanese institutional investors view crypto assets as a portfolio diversification tool, with nearly 79% of those respondents expressing intent to allocate capital to the asset class over the next three years. Executive leadership from Laser Digital emphasized that the registration positions the firm to deliver global institutional-grade infrastructure and compliance frameworks within Japan's evolving market.
Norbert Gehrke
