Crypto Trading Set to Roll Out for Japanese Nomura Bank Institutional Clients in Early 2023

Japanese bank Nomura will offer institutional clients crypto trading in early 2023. The bank is one of Japan’s largest and launched a crypto unit earlier this year.

Japanese bank Nomura is reportedly set to launch crypto trading for institutional clients in early 2023. The crypto unit of Nomura, which is one of Japan’s largest banks, is working on the crypto trading facility and hopes to grow the team in the upcoming months. Blockworks first reported the news.

Nomura first announced the crypto trading plan in May 2022, revealing that it would create a new digital assets company called Laser Digital. Focused on a “comprehensive suite of trading, investor products and investment services,” the company will offer services linked to crypto, DeFi, stablecoins, and NFTs.

Speaking to Blockworks, Jez Mohideen, the CEO of Laser Digital, said that there was anticipation for more institutions to come in. He told the publication,

“The deep skills that we’ve acquired in the area of quant, electronic-trading platform builds and rigorous risk management skill sets. So, that’s what we hope to bring. I think that this sort of skill set is invaluable for the institutionalization of digital assets. There’s no question everybody’s waiting in the crypto ecosystem for institutions to come in.”

The crypto trading platform will be available to institutional clients, family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and hedge funds actively involved in the crypto space. However, the intention is to open up the client base later on.

Laser Digital Wants to Lead Crypto Trading and Institutional Investments

Laser Digital was given its name in September, with the office set up in Switzerland. Since then, it has quickly begun working on plans for the near future. The three priorities that the company outlined are secondary trading, venture capital, and investor products.

As a trading platform for institutional clients, company members have made it clear that now is the time to enter, as it may become too difficult to compete later. It’s a step forward for the market and representative of the change that the institutional markets are experiencing.

The Japanese crypto ecosystem is growing

Nomura also has a strong focus on web3, with plans already laid in place. The bank is building a team to help other companies enter the metaverse. Specifically, it is thinking of ways to use its investment banking knowledge to help companies raise money and navigate regulations.

Nomura is one of many banks in Japan to make a foray into the crypto market. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust launched a new company for institutional clients earlier this year in a joint venture with Bitbank.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government is keen on leveraging web3 and the metaverse to boost the economy. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also spoke of the importance of expanding the social integration of these technologies in October.