Nomura-backed Laser Digital seeks US bank charter amid crypto banking push: Report

If approved, the move would let the company bypass state-by-state licensing and offer federally regulated crypto trading without taking deposits.

Laser Digital, a full-service digital asset company backed by Japanese financial group Nomura, has reportedly filed for a US national bank trust charter, signaling that crypto-focused companies are seeking deeper integration into the US financial system amid a more permissive regulatory environment.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, the Financial Times reported Tuesday that Laser Digital had submitted its application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The charter would allow the company to operate at the federal level without applying for state-by-state custody licenses.

The company plans to offer spot trading for digital assets but does not intend to take customer deposits, the report said.

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