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Nomura Bank Launches Crypto Venture Capital Unit

One of Japan’s largest investment banks, Nomura, is launching a new venture capital unit to invest in the cryptocurrency space.

Nomura announced Wednesday that its Laser Venture Capital unit will invest in companies in the digital ecosystem, with a focus on decentralized finance (DeFi), centralized finance (CeFi), Web3, and blockchain infrastructure.

Laser Venture Capital will be the first product from Nomura’s new digital assets business, Laser Digital, which was announced today. The bank intends to launch two more products centered on secondary trading and investor prodcts.

Nomura first announced plans to launch a new cryptocurrency company in May. It stated at the time that the unit will offer products and services related to cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, NFTs, and other tokens to institutional clients and investors. Laser Digital Holdings AG, the bank’s crypto holding company, has been established in Switzerland.

Kentaro Okuda, the president and group CEO, said in a statement:

“Staying at the forefront of digital innovation is a key priority for Nomura. This is why, alongside our efforts to diversify our business, we announced earlier this year that Nomura would be setting up a new subsidiary-focused digital assets.”

Kentaro Okuda

Steven Ashley and Jez Mohideen will serve as chairman and CEO of Laser Digital crypto business, respectively. Ashley has resigned from his previous position as the bank’s wholesale division head, as CoinCu previously reported.

Ashley began working for Nomura in 2010. Ashley’s leadership, according to Okuda, will be critical to the growth and success of their new digital asset business.

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Harold

CoinCu News

Harold

With a passion for untangling the complexities of the financial world, I've spent over four years in financial journalism, covering everything from traditional equities to the cutting edge of venture capital. "The financial markets are a fascinating puzzle," I often say, "and I love helping people make sense of them." That's what drives me to bring clear and insightful financial journalism to the readers of Coincu.