Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) has issued a full operating license to Laser Digital Middle East FZE, Nomura’s Dubai-based digital asset subsidiary. This milestone represents the Japanese financial holding firm’s growing ambition in the crypto industry
A strategic move in Dubai’s thriving crypto ecosystem
Nomura’s entrance into the Dubai crypto landscape through Laser Digital emphasizes the increasing attention the emirate’s virtual asset ecosystem is garnering on the global stage. Founded in September 2022 by Nomura and headquartered in Switzerland with offices in Dubai and London, Laser Digital’s new license will enable it to offer various services, including broker-dealer, virtual asset management, and investment. The company plans to conduct over-the-counter services and launch a “range of digital asset investment products and solutions” in the coming months.
Jez Mohideen, CEO of Laser Digital, praised VARA’s “thorough and consultative process” and expressed anticipation for Laser Digital’s growth in the upcoming years. As a key financial hub, Dubai’s strategic approach to regulating the digital asset market, which includes compulsory rulebooks and activity-specific guidelines for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), showcases its commitment to building a secure and robust environment for crypto-related activities.
Growing competition and regulatory landscape in the United Arab Emirates
Laser Digital’s approval surpasses Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, which secured an operational minimum viable product (MVP) license from VARA just recently. This MVP license limits Binance from offering its services to all retail investors in Dubai. In addition to Binance, digital asset custodians Komainu MEA and Hex Trust MENA FZE hold operational MVP permits, and crypto exchange BitOasis’s permit was suspended for non-compliance with mandated conditions.
The intensifying competition among crypto firms in Dubai reflects the emirate’s proactive approach to digital asset regulation and its attractiveness as a crypto hub. Alongside granting licenses, the Dubai Multi Commodities Center’s tax incentives have contributed to attracting more than 500 crypto companies since the start of 2023.
Nomura, one of Japan’s largest banks, has positioned itself effectively within Dubai’s crypto ecosystem through its newly licensed subsidiary. The city’s strategic alignment with crypto regulations and its growing appeal to major global crypto players signal a promising future for digital assets in the region.
In a region quickly becoming a focal point for crypto innovation, Nomura’s Laser Digital acquisition of a full operating license from VARA significantly advances its digital asset ambitions. This latest development, along with Dubai’s thriving crypto ecosystem and the regulatory landscape, paints an encouraging picture for the future of virtual assets in the United Arab Emirates.
