Nomura’s Crypto Arm Laser Digital Eyes US Bank Charter: Report

Nomura-backed crypto firm Laser Digital has applied for a US banking licence, aiming to bring more of its digital asset business inside the regulated financial system.

The Financial Times reported that the application was filed Tuesday with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, seeking a national bank trust charter that would give Laser Digital a federal pathway rather than forcing it to chase custody permissions state by state.

Laser Digital, which Nomura spun out in 2022, plans to offer spot trading in digital assets under the structure, and it does not plan to take direct deposits, the report said.

The filing lands as more fintech and crypto firms test a friendlier licensing mood in Washington under President Donald Trump, with charter applications rising as companies try to move payments, custody, and stablecoin activity into a federal perimeter.

Nomura-backed crypto group Laser Digital seeks US banking licence https://t.co/i225NTiHdI

— Financial Times (@FT) January 27, 2026

OCC Bank Charter Process Can Stretch Beyond A Year

An OCC charter typically runs in two stages, starting with conditional approval, then moving to final sign-off after the applicant shows it has the capital and operational readiness to run a bank, a process that can stretch well beyond a year.

The backdrop has changed from the previous administration, when applicants often struggled to clear the initial bar, and some withdrew rather than wait out a long review.

Laser Digital is not the only firm lining up. Trump-linked World Liberty Financial said earlier this month that its subsidiary applied for an OCC national trust bank charter tied to stablecoin operations.

In Europe, Revolut has also shifted gears, dropping plans to buy a US lender and instead preparing a bid for a standalone US banking licence.

FDIC Clears Path For New Corporate-Owned Banks

Even outside fintech, the push is spreading. The FDIC recently approved deposit insurance applications from Ford and General Motors, clearing a path for the automakers to set up industrial banks in Utah.

The OCC itself has a new leadership team in place, with Jonathan V. Gould sworn in as Comptroller of the Currency in July 2025.

The numbers show how quickly interest has picked up. Freshfields reported that the OCC received 14 de novo charter applications in 2025 for limited purpose national trust banks, nearly matching the total from the prior four years combined.