Nomura Holdings, one of Japan’s leading financial services groups, is reportedly exploring the possible sale of its cryptocurrency subsidiary, Laser Digital, as the company’s European branch faces continued losses.
Talks with potential buyers
Nomura has engaged in discussions with prospective buyers such as Marex Group, according to Bloomberg. Although talks have taken place, a final decision has not been reached and there remains the possibility that Nomura could retain Laser Digital. Marex Group is a UK-based diversified financial services platform specializing in commodities, financial products, and digital assets.
Mini dictionary: Marex Group, a global financial services platform headquartered in London, offers trading, hedging, and market access to clients across a wide range of financial and commodity markets, including digital assets.
The potential divestment appears to be driven by mounting financial pressure at Nomura’s European businesses, which reported a pretax loss of 7.4 billion yen ($46.5 million) for the quarter ending September 30, 2026. This marks the fourth consecutive quarterly loss for the region. In contrast, Nomura achieved pretax profits in its other major geographic segments during the same period. The company did not specify whether Laser Digital, which is headquartered in Switzerland, factored into these results.
Laser Digital’s background and expansion
Founded in 2022, Laser Digital offers institutional clients a suite of cryptocurrency services including trading, asset management, and venture investments. The subsidiary has been actively seeking international growth opportunities and, in May 2026, received preliminary approval from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish a national trust bank.
Mini dictionary: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a bureau within the US Department of the Treasury, regulates and supervises national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches of foreign banks.
In Japan, Laser Digital achieved a significant milestone less than three months ago when its local unit secured the nation’s first new crypto exchange license in four years. This license positions the company to expand its institutional crypto trading services domestically.
| Region | Q3 2026 Profit/Loss | Laser Digital Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | 7.4 billion yen loss ($46.5 million) | Headquartered in Switzerland; sale under consideration |
| Japan | Pretax profit (exact amount not specified) | Received new crypto exchange license |
| Other regions | Pretax profit (not specified) | Not detailed |
Nomura’s strategic outlook
Nomura’s investment management division presently oversees 152.8 trillion yen ($960 billion) in assets as of September 2026. The group has pursued a variety of strategies to balance risk and support expansion into digital assets.
During an earnings call in January, chief financial officer Hiroyuki Moriuchi indicated that Nomura planned to reduce cryptocurrency trading positions in order to manage short-term volatility. At the same time, the company intends to maintain its long-term commitment to growing Laser Digital.
Hiroyuki Moriuchi explained that while Nomura aims to limit short-term volatility by adjusting its cryptocurrency positions, it remains committed to expanding its digital asset offerings over the medium and long term.
The potential sale of Laser Digital highlights both Nomura’s ambitions in the digital assets sector and the challenges facing its European business units as market volatility and regulatory pressures persist.
