Nomura Partly Attributes 10% Profit Drop to Crypto Losses, Curbs Risk at Laser Digital

Monday, 02/02/2026 | 13:47 GMT by Jared Kirui
  • Losses from Laser Digital’s trading book resulted from the October crypto market selloff.
  • The tighter risk controls come as the firm seeks stronger regulatory footing in the U.S. market.
Japan (shutterstock)
Japan (shutterstock)

Nomura Holdings will tighten risk controls and position management at its crypto arm Laser Digital after the unit’s losses contributed to a 9.7% drop in fiscal third-quarter profit.

The Japanese financial group reported net income of $584 million for the three months ended December 31. The result reflected pressure from the October selloff in digital assets, which hit Laser Digital’s trading book and fed through to group earnings.

Stricter Position Management at Laser Digital

Speaking at an earnings briefing, as quoted by Bloomberg, CEO Hiroyuki Moriuchi said Nomura had introduced stricter position management at Laser Digital. He said the changes aim to reduce the unit’s risk exposure and limit swings in the group’s earnings caused by crypto market volatility .

The measures follow a sharp reversal in crypto prices late last year. In October, after bitcoin reached a record high above $126,200, the market suffered a flash crash that wiped out more than $19 billion in leveraged positions. It was described as the largest deleveraging event in the industry’s history.

Read more: Nomura Taps OpenAI to Create AI-Driven Investment Advice and Market Insights

Bitcoin ended the year around $87,000, about 30% below its October peak. Over the same period, the total value of the crypto market fell from roughly $4.3 trillion to just over $3 trillion, according to Coingecko data. The risk tightening at Laser Digital comes as the unit pursues a more formal regulatory foothold in the United States.

National Trust Bank Application

A few days before Moriuchi outlined the new risk stance, Laser Digital said its Americas division had filed a de novo application with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish a national trust bank.

The proposed trust bank would target asset management and related services for the digital assets sector. The application places Laser Digital among several crypto-focused firms seeking federal charters to expand their institutional offerings.

Meanwhile, Laser Digital recently launched a tokenized vehicle designed to generate yield in addition to tracking Bitcoin’s spot performance. The new fund seeks to enhance returns for institutional investors by turning long-term Bitcoin exposure into an income-generating asset.

It builds on Laser Digital’s earlier Bitcoin Adoption Fund, which debuted in 2023 ahead of the introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs. The strategy combines direct Bitcoin holdings with actively managed, market-neutral trades, marking a further expansion of Nomura’s institutional crypto offerings.

Nomura Holdings will tighten risk controls and position management at its crypto arm Laser Digital after the unit’s losses contributed to a 9.7% drop in fiscal third-quarter profit.

The Japanese financial group reported net income of $584 million for the three months ended December 31. The result reflected pressure from the October selloff in digital assets, which hit Laser Digital’s trading book and fed through to group earnings.

Stricter Position Management at Laser Digital

Speaking at an earnings briefing, as quoted by Bloomberg, CEO Hiroyuki Moriuchi said Nomura had introduced stricter position management at Laser Digital. He said the changes aim to reduce the unit’s risk exposure and limit swings in the group’s earnings caused by crypto market volatility .

The measures follow a sharp reversal in crypto prices late last year. In October, after bitcoin reached a record high above $126,200, the market suffered a flash crash that wiped out more than $19 billion in leveraged positions. It was described as the largest deleveraging event in the industry’s history.

Read more: Nomura Taps OpenAI to Create AI-Driven Investment Advice and Market Insights

Bitcoin ended the year around $87,000, about 30% below its October peak. Over the same period, the total value of the crypto market fell from roughly $4.3 trillion to just over $3 trillion, according to Coingecko data. The risk tightening at Laser Digital comes as the unit pursues a more formal regulatory foothold in the United States.

National Trust Bank Application

A few days before Moriuchi outlined the new risk stance, Laser Digital said its Americas division had filed a de novo application with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish a national trust bank.

The proposed trust bank would target asset management and related services for the digital assets sector. The application places Laser Digital among several crypto-focused firms seeking federal charters to expand their institutional offerings.

Meanwhile, Laser Digital recently launched a tokenized vehicle designed to generate yield in addition to tracking Bitcoin’s spot performance. The new fund seeks to enhance returns for institutional investors by turning long-term Bitcoin exposure into an income-generating asset.

It builds on Laser Digital’s earlier Bitcoin Adoption Fund, which debuted in 2023 ahead of the introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs. The strategy combines direct Bitcoin holdings with actively managed, market-neutral trades, marking a further expansion of Nomura’s institutional crypto offerings.

About the Author: Jared Kirui
Jared Kirui
  • 2582 Articles
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About the Author: Jared Kirui
Jared is an experienced financial journalist passionate about all things forex and CFDs.
  • 2582 Articles
  • 53 Followers

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