# Japan's Laser Digital Applies for U.S. Banking License: FT

*Author: Jack Inabinet*
*Published: Jan 27, 2026*
*Source: https://www.bankless.com/read/news/crypto-focused-japanese-banking-subsidiary-applies-for-u-s-banking-license-ft*

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Laser Digital, the digital assets subsidiary of Japanese financial conglomerate [Nomura](https://www.nomura.com/), has applied for a U.S. national trust bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

### What's the Scoop?
- **Bank Application:** According to the *Financial Times,** ***Laser Digital (a digital asset-focused company which spun out of Nomura in 2022) has [filed](https://www.ft.com/content/74b07307-d105-4ce4-9f9d-25b35f242a7e) with the OCC for a national trust bank charter. Charter holders can offer nationwide asset custody without needing to secure individual licenses at the state level.
- **Exchange Ambitions: **Although Laser Digital declined to comment, according to the [report](https://www.ft.com/content/74b07307-d105-4ce4-9f9d-25b35f242a7e), one person familiar with Laser Digital’s position indicated that the group intends to offer spot trading for digital assets.
- **Recent Approvals:** The OCC previously [granted](https://www.bankless.com/read/news/u-s-national-banking-regulator-grants-trust-charters-to-five-crypto-banks) national trust bank charters to five crypto banks associated with BitGo, Circle, Fidelity Digital Assets, Paxos, and Ripple in December.

> Nomura-backed crypto group Laser Digital seeks US banking licence [https://t.co/DqissJPCDZ](https://t.co/DqissJPCDZ)— Finance News (@ftfinancenews) [January 27, 2026](https://twitter.com/ftfinancenews/status/2016195477440458970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
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