Laser Digital’s Pivotal Move: Nomura-Backed Crypto Firm Actively Pursues US Banking License
New York, April 2025: In a significant development for the institutional adoption of digital assets, Laser Digital, the cryptocurrency trading and asset management firm backed by Japanese financial giant Nomura Holdings, is actively pursuing a banking license in the United States. This strategic move, first reported by industry sources, represents a calculated effort to secure a more robust regulatory footing and expand its service offerings in one of the world’s largest financial markets. The initiative follows a broader trend of crypto-native and fintech entities seeking formal banking charters to bridge the traditional and digital finance worlds.
Laser Digital’s Strategic Pursuit of a US Banking License
Laser Digital, established in 2022 as Nomura’s dedicated digital assets subsidiary, has built a reputation for providing institutional-grade services in cryptocurrency trading, venture investing, and asset management. The pursuit of a U.S. banking license is not an impulsive decision but a logical next step in its growth trajectory. Obtaining a charter, likely from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) or a state regulator, would fundamentally alter its operational capabilities. It would permit Laser Digital to offer a wider array of financial services directly, potentially including custody of traditional and digital assets, lending against crypto collateral, and facilitating dollar settlements natively, all under a consolidated regulatory umbrella. This move underscores a shift from operating as a trading firm within a regulatory gray area to becoming a fully regulated financial institution, a transition that demands significant capital, compliance infrastructure, and regulatory dialogue.
The Complex Landscape of Crypto Banking Charters
The path to a banking charter for a cryptocurrency-focused entity remains complex and precedent-setting. The regulatory environment in the United States is multifaceted, involving both federal and state authorities. The OCC has previously granted special-purpose national bank charters to fintech companies, a path that firms like Anchorage Digital have successfully navigated to become a federally chartered digital asset bank. However, the political and regulatory climate remains cautious. Key considerations for regulators include:
- Capital and Liquidity Requirements: Demonstrating sufficient capital buffers to withstand market volatility unique to crypto assets.
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance: Implementing ironclad Know Your Customer (KYC) and transaction monitoring systems that exceed traditional banking standards.
- Custody and Security: Proving unparalleled security protocols for safeguarding digital private keys, a risk not present in traditional banking.
- Consumer Protection: Outlining clear frameworks for consumer disclosures and dispute resolutions in a novel asset class.
Laser Digital’s backing by Nomura, a globally systemically important bank (G-SIB), may provide a significant advantage. It signals to regulators that the firm has access to deep expertise in risk management, regulatory compliance, and corporate governance from its parent organization.
Contextualizing the Trend: Revolut and Beyond
Laser Digital’s reported initiative aligns with a visible trend among digital-first financial companies seeking to deepen their U.S. presence through banking licenses. Notably, London-based neobank Revolut has also been actively pursuing a U.S. banking charter from the OCC. While Revolut offers crypto trading alongside its core banking services, its application represents a similar convergence. This parallel activity highlights a strategic consensus: to achieve scale, trust, and full-service capability in the competitive U.S. market, a formal banking license is increasingly viewed as essential. It provides regulatory clarity, reduces dependency on partner banks, and enhances brand trust with both retail and institutional clients. The table below contrasts the profiles of these two firms in their licensing pursuits.
| Firm | Primary Focus | Backing | License Target | Strategic Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laser Digital | Institutional Crypto Trading & Asset Management | Nomura Holdings (Global Investment Bank) | U.S. Banking Charter (OCC or State) | Become a full-service regulated crypto bank for institutions |
| Revolut | Consumer Neobank with Crypto Features | Venture Capital & Private Equity | U.S. Banking Charter (OCC) | Offer integrated banking & crypto services to retail customers |
Implications for the Institutional Crypto Ecosystem
If successful, Laser Digital’s acquisition of a U.S. banking license would have profound ripple effects across the financial landscape. For traditional financial institutions, it would serve as a validated blueprint for how a major bank’s subsidiary can legally and safely engage with digital assets at the highest level. It could accelerate the entry of other global banks into the space through similar dedicated entities. For the crypto market, a Nomura-backed regulated bank would provide a massive liquidity and credibility boost. Institutional investors, such as pension funds and endowments that have been hesitant due to custody and regulatory concerns, would gain a trusted, familiar counterparty that operates under stringent banking supervision. Furthermore, it could spur innovation in new financial products, such as structured crypto products, repo markets, and more sophisticated derivatives, all built within a regulated framework.
The Long Road Ahead and Regulatory Hurdles
It is critical to note that pursuing a license is the beginning of a lengthy and uncertain process. The application will undergo intense scrutiny from regulators concerned with financial stability, consumer protection, and preventing illicit finance. The process can take anywhere from 18 to 36 months or longer, involving multiple rounds of questions, operational reviews, and potentially public comment periods. Laser Digital will need to meticulously prepare its application, addressing every conceivable regulatory concern. Its existing operational history, compliance programs, and the direct oversight from its Nomura parent will be central to its narrative. The outcome will be closely watched as a bellwether for how U.S. regulators view the integration of traditional banking and cryptocurrency businesses under the umbrella of a major global financial institution.
Conclusion
The news that Laser Digital is pursuing a U.S. banking license marks a pivotal moment in the maturation of the cryptocurrency industry. It moves beyond speculation and trading into the foundational realm of regulated financial infrastructure. Backed by the credibility and resources of Nomura, this effort represents one of the most significant attempts yet to fully bridge the gap between traditional finance and the digital asset ecosystem. A successful application would not only transform Laser Digital’s business but could also set a new standard for how institutional crypto services are delivered globally, providing the regulatory clarity and security that large-scale capital adoption requires. The pursuit of this US banking license is, therefore, a story about legitimacy, integration, and the future architecture of finance itself.
FAQs
Q1: What is Laser Digital?
Laser Digital is a digital assets subsidiary of Nomura Holdings, a leading Japanese global investment bank. It focuses on institutional cryptocurrency trading, venture capital investing in blockchain companies, and asset management products related to digital assets.
Q2: Why would a crypto firm want a banking license?
A banking license grants a company the legal authority to conduct core financial activities like holding customer deposits (in fiat and possibly digital assets), providing custody services, and making loans. It provides regulatory clarity, enhances trust with clients, reduces reliance on third-party banking partners, and allows for a broader range of services.
Q3: Which regulator grants U.S. banking licenses?
In the United States, banking charters can be granted at the federal level by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national charter, or at the state level by individual state banking departments. Special-purpose charters for fintech and crypto firms typically involve the OCC.
Q4: Has any crypto company gotten a U.S. banking charter before?
Yes. Notably, Anchorage Digital received a national trust charter from the OCC in 2021, making it Anchorage Digital Bank, N.A. Kraken also holds a Wyoming Special Purpose Depository Institution (SPDI) charter through Kraken Financial.
Q5: How does Nomura’s backing help Laser Digital’s application?
Nomura’s backing provides Laser Digital with immense advantages: substantial capital to meet regulatory requirements, a deep well of expertise in banking compliance and risk management, and inherent credibility with financial regulators due to its parent’s status as a globally systemically important bank (G-SIB).
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