(Rejected) Japan's Nomura Investment Bank to Set up Digital Ecosystem Venture Capital Arm

Nomura, a global investment bank headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, has announced the formation of a venture capital arm for companies focused on crypto and blockchain.

Nomura said the business, called Laser Digital, will “provide new value in the digital asset space” for clients owned by Swiss holding company Laser Digital Holdings AG.

Steve Ashley, Nomura’s head of trading and investment banking in London, has resigned from his role and will take a new job in the bank’s crypto business. Ashley will reportedly serve as chairman of the newly formed Laser Digital Holdings. Jez Mohideen, the bank’s head of crypto operations, will become the company’s CEO.

Laser Digital will focus on three core areas: secondary trading, venture capital and investor products. The first business to launch will be Laser Venture Capital, which will invest in companies in the digital ecosystem with a focus on Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Centralized Finance (CeFi), Web3 and blockchain infrastructure.

The company plans to launch additional products and services for secondary trading and investor offerings in the "coming months."

"Staying at the forefront of digital innovation is a key priority for Nomura," said Kentaro Okuda, President and Group CEO of Nomura Holdings.

Prior to this, Nomura Securities launched a digital asset subsidiary for institutional clients last May this year, which will provide users with services related to decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, etc. and products.

Nomura Securities established Digital Company in April. The digital company was formed following the reorganization of the bank's future innovation company, with a strategic plan to build its presence in the digital asset space. Nomura said the newly formed digital company will help accelerate its uptake of digital technologies, foster deeper collaboration between internal and external stakeholders, and enhance its customer service.