Nomura Holdings is ramping up its involvement in Japan’s booming crypto sector, pursuing licensing and forging partnerships to facilitate institutional digital asset trading, amidst record trading volumes and favourable regulatory shifts.

Nomura Holdings is intensifying its involvement in Japan’s burgeoning cryptocurrency market, driven by rising trading volumes and a growing appetite among institutional investors. The firm’s Swiss-based subsidiary, Laser Digital Holdings, is currently in pre-consultation with Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) to obtain a license to offer trading services to institutional clients domestically. According to Laser Digital’s CEO, Jez Mohideen, the move reflects Nomura’s confidence in the long-term potential of Japan’s digital asset sector, notwithstanding recent financial challenges at the unit. Established in 2022, Laser Digital already holds a full crypto business license in Dubai and seeks to expand its capabilities by acting as a broker-dealer for banks, pension funds, crypto firms, and exchanges within Japan.

Japan’s crypto market is experiencing significant momentum, with trading value hitting approximately ¥33.7 trillion ($230 billion) in the first seven months of 2025, a doubling of activity year-on-year. Industry data from the Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association shows on-chain transaction values surged by 120% over the previous 12 months, outpacing growth in comparable markets such as South Korea, India, and Vietnam. Catalysing this expansion are regulatory initiatives including prospective tax reductions and new frameworks for crypto investment funds, which appear to be attracting both young retail investors and large institutional participants.

Further evidence of increased mainstream integration is illustrated by moves such as Daiwa Securities’ recent decision to accept Bitcoin and Ether as collateral for yen loans across its retail branches, signalling an emerging trend of incorporating digital assets into traditional financial services. Additionally, the successful licensing of a yen-backed stablecoin issuer adds to the growing infrastructure supporting crypto liquidity and usability in Japan.

Nomura’s broader commitment to innovation in digital finance is underscored by its recent partnership with GMO Internet Group to explore the issuance of yen- and dollar-pegged stablecoins in Japan. This collaboration is geared toward creating robust issuance, redemption, and circulation mechanisms, alongside delivering ‘Stablecoin-as-a-Service’ solutions to assist companies wishing to issue stablecoins, a step that could further accelerate digital asset adoption.

Despite these strategic advances, Laser Digital’s financial performance has so far been uneven. Nomura’s CFO, Hiroyuki Moriuchi, candidly acknowledged earlier this year that the unit’s results have been "not very good," with the anticipated timeline to break even extended beyond initial projections. This highlights the risks inherent in pioneering new financial models within a still-developing regulatory landscape.

Nevertheless, growing institutional interest suggests a potentially transformative horizon for crypto in Japan. Recent surveys by Nomura and Laser Digital reveal that over half of Japanese institutional investors intend to venture into digital assets over the next three years, with 62% seeing them as a valuable tool for portfolio diversification. Anticipated revisions to Japan’s Limited Partnerships Act, expected later this year, are poised to facilitate these investments by formally recognising crypto assets within the range of permissible investments for limited partnerships, thereby easing legal and operational barriers.

Nomura's expansion into Japan’s digital asset ecosystem thus represents a calculated long-term play, reliant on sustained institutional inflows and evolving regulatory clarity. While short-term profitability for units like Laser remains uncertain, the company’s activities reflect a broader trend of convergence between traditional finance and digital assets, positioning Japan as a significant frontier in the maturation of the crypto market.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Verification / Sources

  • https://bitcoinist.com/crypto-in-japan-may-soon-open-wider-as-holdings-giant-pushes-expansion/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
  • https://www.nomuraholdings.com/news/nr/holdings/20240527/20240527.html - Nomura Holdings and Laser Digital have partnered with GMO Internet Group to explore issuing JPY and USD stablecoins in Japan. This collaboration aims to leverage their expertise in digital assets to provide high-standard services in the stablecoin market. The partnership will focus on the issuance, redemption, and circulation mechanisms of these stablecoins, as well as offering a 'Stablecoin-as-a-Service' solution to support companies in issuing stablecoins. This initiative reflects Nomura's commitment to enhancing digital asset accessibility and innovation in Japan's financial landscape.
  • https://www.nomuraholdings.com/news/nr/holdings/20240624/20240624.html - A survey conducted by Nomura Holdings and Laser Digital reveals that over half of Japanese institutional investors intend to invest in digital assets over the next three years. The study highlights a growing interest in crypto assets, with 62% of respondents viewing them as a diversification opportunity. The survey also indicates that a revision in the Limited Partnerships Act, expected later this year, could facilitate these investments by adding crypto assets to the list of assets that Limited Partnerships can acquire.
  • https://www.nomuraholdings.com/news/nr/holdings/20240624/20240624.html - Nomura Holdings and its digital asset subsidiary, Laser Digital, have conducted a survey revealing that over half of Japanese institutional investors plan to invest in digital assets within the next three years. The survey also indicates that a revision in the Limited Partnerships Act, expected later this year, could facilitate these investments by adding crypto assets to the list of assets that Limited Partnerships can acquire.
  • https://www.nomuraholdings.com/news/nr/holdings/20240624/20240624.html - Nomura Holdings and its digital asset subsidiary, Laser Digital, have conducted a survey revealing that over half of Japanese institutional investors plan to invest in digital assets within the next three years. The survey also indicates that a revision in the Limited Partnerships Act, expected later this year, could facilitate these investments by adding crypto assets to the list of assets that Limited Partnerships can acquire.
  • https://www.nomuraholdings.com/news/nr/holdings/20240624/20240624.html - Nomura Holdings and its digital asset subsidiary, Laser Digital, have conducted a survey revealing that over half of Japanese institutional investors plan to invest in digital assets within the next three years. The survey also indicates that a revision in the Limited Partnerships Act, expected later this year, could facilitate these investments by adding crypto assets to the list of assets that Limited Partnerships can acquire.
  • https://www.nomuraholdings.com/news/nr/holdings/20240624/20240624.html - Nomura Holdings and its digital asset subsidiary, Laser Digital, have conducted a survey revealing that over half of Japanese institutional investors plan to invest in digital assets within the next three years. The survey also indicates that a revision in the Limited Partnerships Act, expected later this year, could facilitate these investments by adding crypto assets to the list of assets that Limited Partnerships can acquire.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We've since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative is recent, with the earliest known publication date being October 3, 2025. The content appears original, with no evidence of prior publication. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative includes updated data on Japan's crypto market growth, justifying a higher freshness score.

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: The direct quotes from Laser Digital's CEO, Jez Mohideen, and Nomura's CFO, Hiroyuki Moriuchi, are unique to this report, with no earlier matches found online. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The narrative originates from Bitcoinist, a cryptocurrency-focused news outlet. While it provides detailed information, its credibility may be questioned due to its niche focus. The report references official press releases from Nomura Holdings, enhancing its reliability.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims about Nomura Holdings' expansion into Japan's cryptocurrency market align with recent developments, including their partnership with GMO Internet Group to explore stablecoin issuance in Japan. The reported growth in Japan's crypto market, with transaction values doubling to ¥33.7 trillion in the first seven months of 2025, is consistent with industry data. The narrative lacks specific factual anchors, such as exact dates for the proposed licensing, which could reduce its score.

Overall assessment

Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents recent developments regarding Nomura Holdings' expansion into Japan's cryptocurrency market, supported by official press releases and consistent with industry data. However, the reliance on a cryptocurrency-focused news outlet and the lack of specific factual anchors warrant further verification. The overall assessment is OPEN with a MEDIUM confidence level.