Nomura Holdings is exploring the sale of its crypto subsidiary Laser Digital.

BlockBeats news, November 12 - According to Bloomberg, Nomura Holdings is exploring the sale of its crypto business Laser Digital Holdings AG. The Zurich-based subsidiary incurred losses last year and dragged Nomura's entire European operations into the red. People familiar with the matter said Japan's largest brokerage is in contact with potential buyers, including Marex Group, which is evaluating the deal; no final decision has been made, and Nomura may also sell the business to other buyers or choose to retain it. Representatives for Nomura and Marex declined to comment.

Laser Digital was founded in 2022 and provides crypto asset trading, asset management, and venture capital services to institutional clients. It is part of Nomura's digital asset push, which also includes security token platform Boostry and custodian Komainu. Despite the losses, the company has recently continued to advance its institutional business: in August this year, Laser Digital Japan completed registration as a crypto asset trading service provider, becoming Japan's first new entrant in this category in nearly four years; in May this year, its proposed U.S. national trust bank received conditional preliminary approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

In January this year, Hiroyuki Moriuchi, Nomura's head of finance, said that because Laser Digital recorded losses in October to December 2025 due to market volatility, the company is reducing its crypto asset exposure through strict position management, while emphasizing that its medium- to long-term commitment to digital asset-related businesses remains unchanged.