A digital asset company backed by Nomura has received preliminary approval to operate as a national trust bank, marking another milestone in the cryptocurrency industry’s push into traditional banking.
Laser Digital, which operates as Nomura’s cryptocurrency subsidiary, announced it has obtained conditional approval for a national trust bank charter. The approval would permit the company to manage and oversee tokenized assets, digital currencies, and traditional investments within the United States under federal regulatory oversight once it receives final authorization from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
To receive complete approval, the company must meet specific requirements, including establishing adequate capital reserves. The firm has stated it will not offer deposit accounts or lending products to customers.
Based in Zurich, Laser Digital separated from Nomura in 2022 and focuses on serving institutional clients through cryptocurrency trading services and investment opportunities in digital assets, overseeing more than $250 million in client funds.
The planned U.S. operation, called Laser Digital National Trust Bank, intends to assist customers with transferring funds between traditional currencies, stablecoins, and other digital assets, while also processing international payments and managing collateral across both cryptocurrency and conventional financial markets.
Recent legislative developments, including policies like the GENIUS Act, have provided clearer guidance on cryptocurrency regulations, boosting institutional investor confidence in stablecoins and tokenized assets by establishing a more defined regulatory structure in the United States.
This regulatory clarity has become apparent as digital currencies have entered mainstream finance, attracting significant investment in related technology from established financial institutions across the industry.
Earlier this year, BNY, recognized as the world’s largest custodian bank, introduced a tokenized deposit platform that attracted attention from Intercontinental Exchange, which owns the New York Stock Exchange, and trading company Citadel Securities.
The growing interest has prompted numerous companies to pursue national trust bank charters. According to information gathered by S&P Global, digital asset companies have filed at least 15 applications for banking charters under OCC supervision since early 2025.
