Laser Digital, the digital assets division of Japanese investment bank Nomura, has filed an application with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a federally regulated national trust bank. The move positions the company among a growing number of crypto firms seeking to provide institutional-grade asset management services in the digital assets sector.
The proposed Laser Digital National Trust Bank would operate from a U.S. base and cater to institutional clients. The bank would offer cryptocurrency custody alongside U.S. government securities safekeeping, according to a Tuesday announcement.
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Beyond custody services, the planned institution would provide spot trading capabilities for both cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies. The bank would also offer staking services for eligible digital assets held in custody by clients.
If approved by regulators, Laser Digital would join an exclusive group of federally regulated, crypto-native institutions operating under direct national regulator supervision. The application arrives just one month after Ripple, Circle Internet, BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos each received initial approvals as trust banks.
“Institutional clients are increasingly looking for ways to engage with digital assets within structures that are familiar, well governed, and regulator-supervised,” said Purvi Maniar, Laser Digital’s chief legal officer and proposed bank president. “The National Trust Bank framework provides exactly that.”
Laser Digital currently operates from Zurich and holds licenses in the United Arab Emirates. The firm already provides crypto funds, over-the-counter trading services, and treasury management tools to clients.
Earlier this month, Laser Digital introduced a tokenized bitcoin yield-bearing fund called the Laser Digital Bitcoin Diversified Yield Fund.
On the launch of the Fund, Jez Mohideen, Co-founder and CEO of Laser Digital, said:
“Recent market volatility has shown that yield-bearing, market neutral funds built on calculated DeFi strategies are the natural evolution of crypto asset management. As an early entrant to this space, the launch of Laser Digital’s upgraded Bitcoin fund allows us to maintain our position and capitalise on the next phase of DeFi, while servicing the needs of Bitcoin holders as well as existing and new institutional investors entering the market.”
The proposed national trust bank will not offer deposit accounts or securities trading when it launches. The OCC application represents a significant regulatory milestone for Nomura’s crypto operations as institutional demand for regulated custody solutions continues to grow.
The national trust bank framework has emerged as a preferred regulatory pathway for major crypto companies seeking to provide institutional services. This structure assures clients of federal oversight while enabling firms to offer a comprehensive range of digital asset services.
Laser Digital’s application demonstrates how traditional finance institutions are increasingly integrating digital assets into their core business operations. The move underscores the broader trend of legacy financial firms establishing dedicated crypto divisions to serve institutional clients demanding regulated access to cryptocurrencies.
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