Nomura's digital asset arm, Laser Digital, has invested in ZIGChain, a blockchain project aiming to bring private credit onchain in the United Arab Emirates, in a deal reportedly worth in the high single-digit millions of dollars.
A Bet on Onchain Private Credit
The investment underscores growing institutional appetite for tokenizing real-world assets, with private credit emerging as one of the most closely watched segments. Laser Digital, the crypto-focused subsidiary of Japanese banking giant Nomura, is backing ZIGChain as it seeks to build infrastructure for delivering private lending products directly on the blockchain.
Private credit — loans extended by non-bank lenders to companies — has grown into a multitrillion-dollar market globally. Proponents argue that moving these assets onchain could improve transparency, streamline settlement, and open the traditionally illiquid asset class to a broader pool of participants.
Institutional money is increasingly betting that the next frontier for blockchain lies in bringing real-world credit onchain.
UAE at the Center
The UAE has positioned itself as a regional hub for digital assets, offering clearer regulatory frameworks that have attracted crypto firms and traditional financial institutions alike. ZIGChain's focus on the market reflects the emirate's push to become a destination for tokenized finance.
Laser Digital's involvement adds a notable institutional name to the effort. The firm has been active in the digital asset space, making strategic investments and building out trading and asset management operations since its launch.
Key elements of the deal include:
- An investment understood to be in the high single-digit millions
- A focus on bringing private credit products onchain
- A strategic push targeting the UAE market
The financing signals continued momentum for real-world asset tokenization, a theme that has drawn attention from major banks and asset managers seeking new efficiencies in traditional finance.