Laser Digital Americas Group Holdings Inc., the digital asset subsidiary of Japanese financial group Nomura Holdings, said it has filed an application with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to form a federally regulated national trust bank focused on digital asset custody and trading services, according to a company press release distributed via GlobeNewswire.
The proposed entity, Laser Digital National Trust Bank (LDNTB), would operate under a national trust bank charter, which the company said would provide a unified federal regulatory framework for serving institutional clients in the United States.
Proposed services and scope
According to the company, LDNTB would provide custody services for digital assets and U.S. government securities, along with integrated spot trading between cryptocurrency and fiat currencies and staking services for eligible assets held in custody.
Laser Digital stated that the trust bank does not plan to accept retail deposits or trade securities under the proposed structure.
Executive commentary
Steve Ashley, Chairman and Co-Founder of Laser Digital and the proposed Chairman of LDNTB, said the filing reflects the company’s view that institutional digital asset markets are entering a phase defined by scale, regulation, and durability.
Purvi Maniar, Chief Legal Officer of Laser Digital and proposed President of LDNTB, said the OCC’s regulatory framework provides an established model for institutional custody, trading, and fiduciary services.
Regulatory context
Laser Digital’s filing comes as a growing number of digital asset firms seek to operate under federal trust bank frameworks for custody and trading services in the United States. The trend reflects increased institutional focus on regulated infrastructure for digital asset markets.
