Laser Digital’s approval signals renewed regulatory confidence as Japan prepares stricter crypto oversight under new laws.
Nomura Holdings’ digital asset arm, Laser Digital, received Japan’s first crypto exchange license in four years, the Financial Services Agency confirmed. The authorization marks the first new approval since Binance Japan in October 2022, reflecting growing institutional interest in digital assets.
Japan’s parliament recently reclassified crypto as financial assets under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, shifting oversight from the Payment Services Act. The changes, effective within a year, will introduce insider trading rules and tighter compliance requirements for exchanges. Regulators aim to balance innovation with investor protection amid rising institutional participation.
Laser Digital CEO Jez Mohideen said the license positions the firm as a trusted counterparty in Japan’s maturing crypto market. The approval follows months of regulatory scrutiny and aligns with broader efforts to modernize the country’s digital asset framework.