Nomura’s digital asset subsidiary, Laser Digital, has launched a new Tokyo office as part of its expansion into the Far East.
The office in Japan will be led by former Nomura executive director Hideaki Kudo, who has a track record of working on various Nomura projects, including the development of security tokens for the Nomura Group. He also served as a senior portfolio manager at Nomura Asset Management, as stated in Monday’s announcement.
“We are delighted to welcome Kudo-san to our team, and his experience at the Digital Company will greatly benefit Laser Digital’s growth and development,” said Nomura’s co-founder, Steven Ashley.
Nomura opted for Japan as its top choice to provide 24/7 operational management and support for its trading business in the Far East.
A week after securing an in-principal license to operate in Dubai, Laser Digital is extending its reach into Asian markets. On September 26, the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), an international financial free zone in Abu Dhabi, granted the firm an operational license to offer broker-dealer services and asset/fund management services for both virtual and traditional assets.
While Nomura has not disclosed additional details about its new Tokyo office at this time, it’s worth noting that last month, Laser Digital, a subsidiary of Nomura, unveiled the Bitcoin Adoption Fund, designed to provide institutional clients with exposure to Bitcoin (BTC). This fund, offering long-only exposure, is the first in a series of digital asset investment products to be introduced by Laser Digital. Notably, the fund will utilize Komainu, a custody solution offered through a partnership between Nomura, Ledger, and CoinShares, to safeguard client assets.
In an interview with Financial News in June, Jez Mohideen, CEO of Laser Digital, expressed optimism regarding cryptocurrency regulatory clarity in Asia, particularly in Japan and Hong Kong. He believes this clarity will encourage greater retail participation, particularly in light of the lessons learned from regulatory challenges in the United States
