Nomura Group’s digital asset subsidiary, Laser Digital, has been granted authorization by Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) to operate as a crypto asset exchange service provider under the Payment Services Act (PSA). This marks the first such license in four years, following Binance Japan’s approval in October 2022. The development follows revisions to Japan’s Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA), which reclassified crypto assets as financial instruments, shifting regulatory oversight to a stricter framework.
The FSA’s decision comes amid legislative changes passed by Japan’s parliament in July, which amended the FIEA to align crypto assets with traditional financial instruments. These revisions, set to take effect within one year of July 23, are expected to introduce more rigorous compliance requirements for exchanges. Jez Mohideen, co-founder and CEO of Laser Digital, described the move as evidence of Japan’s crypto market “entering a new phase of maturity,” citing growing institutional interest in the asset class.
Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama had previously signalled intent to integrate crypto with traditional finance, though the exact date of her January statement remains unspecified. The FSA has not disclosed the precise timeline for implementing the new regulatory provisions, which are anticipated to reshape the sector’s governance and operational standards.
Written by Oliver Grant
Markets Desk
