Japan's Financial Services Agency authorized Laser Digital, the digital-asset arm of Nomura, to operate as a crypto asset exchange service provider under the Payment Services Act. The Aug. 21 authorization list marks Japan's first new crypto exchange license in four years. The previous FSA authorization went to Binance Japan in October 2022. CEO Jez Mohideen cited a new phase of maturity and rising institutional interest. In July, Japan's parliament passed revisions classifying crypto as financial assets under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, shifting oversight away from the Payment Services Act and introducing insider-trading rules. Those crypto provisions take effect within one year of the July 23 promulgation.
Cointelegraph; Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA) authorization list