When Bitcoin’s price was unable to surpass the $27,500 mark, traders began to anticipate a possible bearish trend, as the asset’s value declined to around $26,500. However, the sentiment changed quickly as Nomura, Japan’s banking giant with a valuation of over $500 billion, announced the launch of a Bitcoin adoption fund through its digital asset arm, Laser Digital. The announcement has had an immediate and significant impact, sending the price of Bitcoin above the $27,000 mark.
Laser Digital Invests In Bitcoin Adoption
Nomura’s digital asset subsidiary, Laser Digital, has officially announced the launch of its Bitcoin Adoption Fund for institutional investors. Bitcoin Adoption Fund will offer long-only exposure to Bitcoin. The fund is designed to be one of the most cost-effective and secure investment solutions in the digital asset space. This is the first in a series of digital adoption investment solutions that Laser Digital plans to introduce to the market.
To ensure the highest level of security for the fund’s assets, Laser Digital will utilize Komainu, a regulated custody solution founded in 2018 by a consortium including Nomura, Ledger, and Coinshares. The Bitcoin Adoption Fund will operate as a segregated portfolio under Laser Digital Funds SPC, a Segregated Portfolio Company registered as a mutual fund in accordance with section 4(3) of the Mutual Funds Act with the Cayman Islands Regulatory Authority (CIMA).
The Laser Digital Asset Management team is spearheaded by Sebastian Guglietta, who previously served as Nomura’s Chief Scientist Officer. With over 25 years of experience in systematic investment strategies, derivatives, and macro trading, Guglietta brings a wealth of knowledge to the table.
Fiona King, who serves as the Head of Distribution, joined Laser from Nickel Digital Asset Management. She was previously the Managing Director and Global Head of Institutional Business at Nickel and also worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, overseeing their UCITS alternative platform.
Fiona said, “We’re delighted to now launch our Bitcoin adoption fund, which allows institutional investors a secure path into digital asset investment that is backed by established finance, with the highest levels of risk management and compliance.”
Bitcoin’s Institutional Adoption Continues To Rise
In a series of strategic moves earlier this year, Laser Digital revealed significant investments aimed at enhancing institutional participation in the digital asset space. In March, the company announced its investment in ClearToken, a crypto startup focused on institutional engagement. This was followed by an investment in Solv Protocol, an on-chain fund management startup, in July.
On August 1, Laser Digital secured a crucial operating license from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority, further strengthening its position in the global digital asset market.
In June, Laser Digital’s co-founder Mohideen, who is also based in Dubai, disclosed that approximately 88% of professional investors surveyed by the company indicated that their clients prefer investments in digital assets.
Sebastien said, “Technology is a key driver of global economic growth and is transforming a large part of the economy from analog to digital. Bitcoin is one of the enablers of this long-lasting transformational change, and long-term exposure to Bitcoin offers a solution to investors to capture this macro trend.”
The community is waiting for the first-ever U.S. approval of a Bitcoin ETF. While American consumers are still waiting for this milestone, other countries have already introduced exchange-traded products like the Coinshares Physical Crypto ETP.
But it’s not just individual investors who are getting in on the action. Big financial institutions have found ways to dip their toes into the Bitcoin pool without actually holding the cryptocurrency themselves. Heavy hitters like Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan have teamed up with crypto-centric asset managers NYDIG and Galaxy Digital to offer Bitcoin exposure to their clients.
And let’s not forget last year’s move by BlackRock, which launched its own Bitcoin investment trust. Then there’s the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, which started the year at almost a 50% discount to its net asset value. It has since clawed its way back to a “mere” 20% deficit after winning a lawsuit with the SEC.
