Nomura’s crypto arm – Laser Digital – has further expanded its reach with the launch of a new office in Japan and the appointment of a representative director.
Laser Digital has opened a new office in Tokyo, according to a statement. Hideaki Kudo has been appointed as a representative director and head of the office.
Prior to his latest role, Kudo was an executive director at Nomura’s Digital Company which is responsible for the Japanese bank’s digital asset strategy. The firm has been focused on projects like the development of security tokens for Nomura Group and the launch of Japan’s first real estate security token offering.
Kudo has been with Nomura Group since 2007 and was previously also a senior portfolio manager at Nomura Asset Management.
Geographic Expansion
Laser Digital was launched in November 2022 and is headquartered in Switzerland. The newly opened Tokyo office follows the successful obtainment of a full crypto services license in Dubai in August. The firm also has an office in London.
«To optimize support of our trading business, we wanted to have 24/7 operational management. [S]o for coverage in the far east, Japan was obviously our top choice,» said Laser Digital co-founder Steven Ashley, who previously led Nomura's wholesale division.
Jez Mohideen is the other co-founder and Nomura’s former chief digital officer as well as co-head of global markets EMEA.
