Nomura’s digital asset subsidiary secures brokerage and AM licenses from Dubai’s VARA
“We are very grateful to VARA for approving our Operating Licence. VARA’s thorough and consultative process provides institutional investors with the assurance they require to engage in this asset class. With the licence now in place, we are looking forward to Laser’s growth over the coming years.”
Nomura’s Dubai-based digital asset subsidiary, Laser Digital Middle East FZE, has secured an operating license approval from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA).
By completing the final stage in VARA’s licensing process, Laser Digital will now be allowed to provide Virtual Asset (VA) Broker-Dealer Services and VA Management and Investment Services from its Dubai entity.
Laser Digital to launch digital asset Trading and Asset Management
Laser Digital is set to launch its Trading and Asset Management businesses in the coming months, offering institutional investors OTC trading services and a comprehensive range of digital asset investment products and solutions.
The digital asset services provider was launched last autumn by Nomura and was co-founded by Steven Ashley, who previously led Nomura’s wholesale division, and Jez Mohideen, who was Nomura’s Chief Digital Officer and Co-Head of Global Markets EMEA.
Jez Mohideen is Laser Digital’s Chief Executive Officer and Cameron Dickie is the firm’s Head of Distribution. The firm is headquartered in Switzerland, with offices in Dubai and London.
Laser Digital leverages the experience of a crypto-native team and the rigor, best practices, and capabilities of Nomura’s global investment banking culture.
Jez Mohideen, CEO of Laser Digital, commented: “We are very grateful to VARA for approving our Operating Licence. VARA’s thorough and consultative process provides institutional investors with the assurance they require to engage in this asset class. With the licence now in place, we are looking forward to Laser’s growth over the coming years.”
Quant-driven liquidity provision and market-making capabilities
The digital asset business backed by Nomura delivers scalable, robust opportunities across trading, asset management, and ventures. The firm operates with an open and dynamic culture that gives it the freedom to adapt to market needs.
As to its trading services, the company’s quant-driven liquidity provision and market-making capabilities are powered by a proprietary technology platform, developed against a backdrop of rigorous risk management and years of experience in systematic trading.
In regard to asset management, Laser Digital aims to raise the bar for rigor in digital asset investing with an innovative suite of institutional-grade digital asset management strategies developed with deep quant expertise and designed with high levels of risk management to offer diversification to institutional investors.
