Laser Digital is the digital asset subsidiary of Nomura Holdings, Japan's largest investment bank. The firm was established in 2022 and is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland. Its creation reflected Nomura's strategic decision to build an institutional-grade digital asset operation rather than acquire one – a relatively uncommon choice among large legacy banks at the time. Laser Digital operates across three areas: venture investment, asset management, and trading and liquidity services.
The firm holds regulatory approval from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai, giving it a significant presence across two major financial hubs. This dual-jurisdiction setup – Swiss incorporation paired with a VARA license – positions Laser Digital to serve institutional clients in both Europe and the Gulf region. AUM figures have not been publicly disclosed in full, though the venture arm has made at least 21 portfolio investments since launch, leading six of those rounds.
Notable investments
- Polygon (MATIC/POL) – Laser Digital backed the Polygon ecosystem early, signaling confidence in Ethereum scaling infrastructure.
- Wintermute – Investment in one of the largest algorithmic trading firms in crypto, reflecting the firm's interest in market structure and liquidity infrastructure.
- Infinity Hash – A bitcoin mining company, part of Laser Digital's broader exposure to mining and proof-of-work infrastructure.
Public information about the full 21-company portfolio is limited. Laser Digital has not published a comprehensive portfolio list, and deal-by-deal disclosures are sparse compared to dedicated crypto venture funds.
Team
Jez Mohideen serves as CEO of Laser Digital. He previously held senior roles at Fidelity International and Credit Suisse, bringing a traditional institutional finance background to the digital asset space. Stefan Kimmel has also been named in early leadership materials. The broader team draws heavily from Nomura's existing network, blending traditional capital markets expertise with crypto-native hires. Public information about the full leadership team beyond Mohideen is limited.
Recent activity
Since 2023, Laser Digital has expanded its asset management offering, launching funds targeting institutional exposure to bitcoin and other digital assets. The VARA license secured in Dubai allowed the firm to offer regulated services to Middle Eastern institutional investors – a growing market segment. Laser Digital has also signaled interest in tokenization, consistent with Nomura's broader group-level push into real-world asset (RWA) infrastructure.
As of early 2025, Laser Digital continues to build out its venture portfolio with a focus on infrastructure-layer projects: trading technology, blockchain protocol development, and custody solutions. The firm has avoided consumer-facing crypto products, staying firmly in the institutional lane. Whether the venture arm will grow beyond 21 portfolio companies – or consolidate around fewer high-conviction bets – remains an open question. Its parent's balance sheet gives it staying power that pure-play crypto venture funds lack, particularly in a prolonged bear market. That backing is Laser Digital's clearest structural advantage.
