Laser Digital, a subsidiary of Nomura Holdings, applies for a U.S. national trust bank license

Odaily Planet Daily News: Japan’s financial giant Nomura Holdings’ digital asset division Laser Digital has applied for a U.S. national trust bank license with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), aiming to fully relocate its crypto and fintech operations back to the U.S. amid a more relaxed regulatory environment in Washington. Sources have confirmed the application to The Block.

If approved, the federal trust bank license will allow Laser Digital to operate nationwide without applying for state-by-state custody licenses, though it will not involve retail deposit-taking. The report states that the company also plans to offer spot cryptocurrency trading services.

This move comes at a time when a new wave of “landing” is happening among native crypto companies. As U.S. policies become more inclusive, more institutions are seeking to integrate trading, custody, and settlement services under a federal regulatory framework. The OCC typically grants “conditional approval” for national trust bank licenses, requiring applicants to meet regulatory conditions related to capital, governance, and compliance before they can operate officially.

Previously, World Liberty Financial, supported by Trump, announced it is seeking a national trust bank license to support the issuance and redemption of USD1 stablecoins under a regulated entity. Additionally, institutions such as Circle, Ripple, BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos have also received conditional approval from the OCC and are moving toward becoming federally regulated trust banks. (The Block)