Laser Digital applies to form US national trust bank
28 January 2026 US
Image: Martn/stock.adobe.com
Laser Digital, the digital assets arm of Japanese Investment bank Nomura, has announced that Laser Digital Americas Group Holdings has filed a de novo application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to form Laser Digital National Trust Bank (LDNTB), a proposed National Trust Bank focused on digital assets, offering custody and spot trading services.
A federal charter would allow Laser Digital to operate nationally without obtaining state-by-state custody licenses.
If approved, the firm will offer custody of digital assets, integrated with spot trading of crypto and fiat currencies, as well as staking of eligible custodied digital assets to institutional clients across the US.
LDNTB will also offer custody of US government securities.
Purvi Maniar, chief legal officer, Laser Digital, and proposed president of LDNTB, remarks: “The OCC is one of the oldest, most established and respected regulators in the world. Institutional clients are increasingly looking for ways to engage with digital assets within structures that are familiar, well governed, and regulator supervised.
“The National Trust Bank framework provides exactly that — a clear, federally overseen model that aligns closely with how institutions already manage custody trading and fiduciary risk.”
Steve Ashley, chairman and co-founder of Laser Digital and proposed Chairman of LDNTB, adds: “Institutional digital asset markets are entering a new phase defined by scale, regulation, and durability.
“For several years we have invested in building infrastructure that meets the standards of the world’s most demanding institutions. Pursuing a National Trust Bank charter is a natural advancement of that journey.”
A federal charter would allow Laser Digital to operate nationally without obtaining state-by-state custody licenses.
If approved, the firm will offer custody of digital assets, integrated with spot trading of crypto and fiat currencies, as well as staking of eligible custodied digital assets to institutional clients across the US.
LDNTB will also offer custody of US government securities.
Purvi Maniar, chief legal officer, Laser Digital, and proposed president of LDNTB, remarks: “The OCC is one of the oldest, most established and respected regulators in the world. Institutional clients are increasingly looking for ways to engage with digital assets within structures that are familiar, well governed, and regulator supervised.
“The National Trust Bank framework provides exactly that — a clear, federally overseen model that aligns closely with how institutions already manage custody trading and fiduciary risk.”
Steve Ashley, chairman and co-founder of Laser Digital and proposed Chairman of LDNTB, adds: “Institutional digital asset markets are entering a new phase defined by scale, regulation, and durability.
“For several years we have invested in building infrastructure that meets the standards of the world’s most demanding institutions. Pursuing a National Trust Bank charter is a natural advancement of that journey.”
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