Nomura's Laser Digital Secures Conditional OCC Approval for U.S. Trust Bank Charter

Laser Digital, the digital asset subsidiary of Japan's Nomura Holdings, secured conditional approval on May 29, 2026, from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national trust bank charter. The move will allow it to custody tokenized, digital and conventional assets in the U.S. under federal oversight once final authorization is granted. Full approval is contingent on meeting conditions such as minimum capital requirements. The unit, Laser Digital National Trust Bank, will not take deposits or provide loans, focusing instead on cross-border payments across traditional currencies, stablecoins and digital assets. Laser Digital manages over $250 million and primarily serves institutional investors. The approval underscores a shifting U.S. regulatory climate, with the GENIUS Act boosting institutional confidence in stablecoins. Legacy firms are expanding into digital infrastructure—BNY launched a tokenized deposit service earlier in 2026, drawing interest from Intercontinental Exchange and Citadel Securities. S&P Global data shows at least 15 digital-asset-related firms have applied for OCC charters in 2025.