Laser Digital’s new asset management arm plotting full crypto suite
The Nomura-backed company’s first product is set to be followed by funds across traditional and digital asset classes, exec tells Blockworks
phanurak rubpol/Shutterstock modified by Blockworks
The asset management unit of Nomura-backed crypto firm Laser Digital has introduced its first cryptocurrency fund, and intends to launch more products that go beyond bitcoin.
Its Bitcoin Adoption Fund, which launched on Tuesday, offers institutional investors long-only investment exposure in Bitcoin. This is the first of several “digital adoption investment solutions” that the company plans to introduce.
“Funds exploiting alpha and beta from both traditional and digital asset classes will follow,” Laser Digital Asset Management head Sebastien Guglietta told Blockworks.
He declined to comment on what types of products in particular could be next.
Japan-based investment bank Nomura introduced Laser Digital last year. The Swiss company was set to focus on Web3 and blockchain companies initially before branching out to offer trading and investment products to institutional clients.
Laser Digital’s asset management unit formed in February, with team members spread across London, Zurich and Dubai. It now has one product under its belt.
Registered as a mutual fund under the Cayman Islands Regulatory Authority, the fund has been registered for marketing in Ireland, Luxembourg and the UK, Guglietta said.
“Additional registrations may follow depending on investor demand,” he added.
Before being tapped to lead Laser Digital Asset Management, Guglietta was Nomura’s chief scientist officer. He also previously worked as a portfolio manager and senior scientist at hedge fund Brevan Howard.
After partnering with crypto asset manager CoinShares and digital asset security company Ledger in 2020 to start the crypto custodian Komainu, Nomura established Laser Digital. This later led to the creation of Laser Digital’s fund group.
Laser Digital gained a full crypto license from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority in July. The company hinted at its latest product launch at the time, noting it would develop “[over-the-counter] trading services and a comprehensive range of digital asset investment products and solutions.”
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