Nomura's Laser Digital Launches Ethereum Adoption Fund for Institutional Investors

Laser Digital, a subsidiary of financial services giant Nomura, has launched an Ethereum Adoption Fund aimed at institutional investors, as announced on 9th November 2023. This fund, centered in London and Dubai, is a strategic move to bolster the presence of Ethereum in the investment portfolios of institutions, enhancing the digital asset's footprint in the global financial market.

Laser Digital has been actively supporting cryptocurrency and digital asset initiatives. In 2023, the company introduced its first cryptocurrency fund, the Bitcoin Adoption Fund, offering institutional investors long-only exposure to Bitcoin. The company's asset management unit was formed in February 2023, with team members in London, Zurich, and Dubai. In July 2023, the company received full crypto licensing from Dubai's Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority. Laser Digital's entry into fund management focused on digital assets was initiated in 2020 with the crypto custodian Komainu.

This Ethereum-focused fund is the latest in a sequence of digital asset solutions initiated by Laser Digital Asset Management. The series began with the introduction of the Bitcoin Adoption Fund in September. This new fund, titled 'Laser Digital Ethereum Adoption Fund SP', is set up as a segregated portfolio under Laser Digital Funds SPC, registered in the Cayman Islands, signaling a structured approach to digital asset investment.

The fund’s assets are secured and regulated through Komainu, a custodian regulated by both the UK Financial Conduct Authority and the Dubai Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority. This highlights the fund's commitment to ensuring compliance with financial regulatory standards and asset security.

Under the leadership of Sebastian Guglietta, former Chief Scientist Officer at Nomura, and Fiona King, previously of Nickel Digital Asset Management, the fund aims to leverage Ethereum's potential in driving the economy's shift from analogue to digital. Guglietta and King bring extensive experience in investment strategies and institutional business to Laser Digital.

With this launch, Laser Digital accentuates its belief in Ethereum as a pivotal technology in the ongoing digital transformation of the economy. The fund is designed not only to invest in Ethereum but also to implement a yield enhancement strategy through staking, catering to the evolving needs of institutional investors in the digital age.

Backed by Nomura, Laser Digital has been actively working to create opportunities in the realm of digital assets, combining the rigor of traditional investment banking with the agility of a crypto-native team. Headquartered in Switzerland, the firm is focused on responsible and compliant engagement in the digital asset market.