Japan registers Nomura’s Laser Digital as first new crypto entrant in four years

Nomura-backed Laser Digital has become Japan’s first newly registered crypto asset exchange service provider in about four years, securing approval as the country prepares to move digital assets under a financial-instruments framework. Summary Laser Digital has become Japan’s first newly registered crypto asset exchange service provider in about four years. The Nomura-backed firm will initially provide liquidity services to domestic virtual asset service providers. Laser Digital plans to expand into institutional digital asset trading, though no launch date has been announced. Japan is preparing to bring crypto under its financial instruments framework, with new rules expected to take effect in 2027. According to Laser Digital, its Japanese subsidiary has completed registration as a crypto asset exchange service provider and will initially supply liquidity to domestic virtual-asset service providers before considering trading services for institutional investors. The company has not disclosed when the institutional offering will launch or the full range of services it intends to provide. The registration, however, gives Laser Digital a regulated route into a market where institutio...