Laser Digital Japan has completed registration as a Crypto Asset Exchange Service Provider under Japan’s Payment Services Act, the company announced on August 21, describing it as the newest entry into the country’s crypto asset industry since 2022.
The company is the Japanese entity of Laser Digital, the digital assets subsidiary Nomura established in Switzerland in 2022.
Liquidity First, Trading Later
Laser Digital Japan will initially serve to enhance liquidity across the domestic market for local virtual asset service providers, according to the announcement. Future services will include offering institutional investors trading opportunities for digital assets, with the launch date and scope to be announced later.
Registration under the Payment Services Act is the license Japan requires of any firm handling crypto asset exchange or custody for customers. It is distinct from the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act framework, under which Japan reclassified crypto assets in April.
Three Executives on the Record
Steve Ashley, co-founder and executive chairman of Laser Digital and chairman of Laser Digital Japan, said the registration reflects the company’s ability to meet regulatory requirements in Japan, building on its track record in other markets.
Dr. Jez Mohideen, co-founder and chief executive of Laser Digital, said Japan’s digital assets market is entering a new phase of maturity and that institutional investors need trusted counterparties and infrastructure designed for their requirements.
Hideaki Kudo, representative director and head of Laser Digital Japan, said completing the regulatory review marks a milestone in the company’s roadmap to serve the Japanese market. Kudo, a former Nomura executive with a background in security token development and asset management, was appointed to lead the company’s Tokyo office when it opened in October 2025.
Survey Figure Requires Care
The announcement cites the 2026 Institutional Investor Survey published by Nomura and Laser Digital in April. It states that 65% of respondents view crypto assets as an opportunity to diversify their portfolios and that nearly 79% of those respondents plan to invest over the next three years.
The second figure is a proportion of the first, meaning roughly half of all respondents rather than 79% of them. The survey was published by the company announcing the registration.
Japan’s Brokerages Are Moving in Sequence
Laser Digital was in pre-consultation talks with Japan’s Financial Services Agency in October 2025, when The Crypto Times reported its intention to seek a license. Daiwa Securities Group and SMBC Nikko Securities were also considering entry.
SBI Holdings began talks in May to acquire crypto exchange Bitbank, and Rakuten Securities has been developing crypto investment trusts, as The Crypto Times reported. The Japan Exchange Group has indicated the Tokyo Stock Exchange could list crypto exchange-traded funds as early as 2027 if legal and tax reforms are finalized.
