Laser Digital, Funded by Nomura Securities, Enters Japan | Obtains Approval for Cryptocurrency Trading After Four Years

Laser Digital Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of Laser Digital, a digital asset company under Nomura Holdings, has announced the completion of its registration as a cryptocurrency exchange operator under the Payment Services Act by Japan's Financial Services Agency.

Laser Digital Japan has been registered under Japan's Payment Services Act. This marks the first new registration of a cryptocurrency trading service provider in Japan in four years.

It has been about four years since a new cryptocurrency exchange operator has been registered with the Financial Services Agency in Japan. The most recent example was Binance, which acquired Sakura Exchange Bitcoin in 2022, but this registration represents a significant milestone for new entrants under domestic regulations.

Main Business Development: Starting with Liquidity Provision
Laser Digital Japan plans to begin its operations by focusing on "liquidity provision" to domestic cryptocurrency exchange operators and related businesses, rather than opening a trading platform for general individuals in the initial phase of entry.

In the future, it will also consider providing digital asset trading services for domestic institutional investors while monitoring market trends. Specific details regarding the start date of services and the products offered will be announced once preparations are complete.

Institutional Investors' Interest and Changes in Market Environment

The background of this entry into the Japanese market is the growing trend among domestic institutional investors to evaluate cryptocurrencies as a means of diversifying their portfolios.

According to the "2026 Institutional Investor Survey" conducted jointly by Nomura and Laser Digital, 65% of respondents are positive about diversifying investments into cryptocurrencies, and about 79% are considering investments within the next three years. Jez Mohideen, co-founder and CEO, pointed out that the Japanese cryptocurrency market has entered a "new stage of maturity." He indicated a commitment to meeting the high service standards and demand for reliable infrastructure expected by institutional investors.

Revisions to Cryptocurrency Regulations and Taxation in Japan

Currently, there is a restructuring of the legal regulations surrounding cryptocurrencies in Japan. With the passage of legal amendments in the National Diet, the supervisory law is set to gradually transition from the previous "Payment Services Act" to the "Financial Instruments and Exchange Act," which is the same as for stocks and bonds.

This transition will formally position cryptocurrencies as financial products, implementing investor protection measures such as insider trading regulations and strengthening monitoring systems for operators. Furthermore, discussions are underway to lower the taxation method on profits from cryptocurrency trading from the previous miscellaneous income (up to 55%) to a flat 20% separate declaration tax, with implementation expected as early as 2028.

As the environment is being improved in both regulatory and taxation aspects, the entry of Laser Digital, which has global achievements under the Nomura Group, is expected to invigorate the cryptocurrency market for institutional investors in Japan.

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