Nomura’s Laser Digital backs ZIGChain for onchain private credit push in UAE
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Summary
Nomura’s digital assets division, Laser Digital, has made a strategic investment in ZIGChain, a UAE-based Layer1 blockchain. The partnership focuses on streamlining private credit markets across the Gulf States, including Sharia-compliant offerings. Together, they aim to create one of the largest institutional onchain vault products in the region, incorporating a comprehensive risk framework and governance.
Why it matters
The partnership addresses a significant gap in the Middle Eastern private credit market by improving accessibility for both borrowers and investors. It aims to democratize private credit funding, which is currently dominated by large funds with high fees and barriers, potentially broadening access to institutional capital in the region. The alliance also signals a continued commitment to crypto from Nomura despite recent market challenges.
Key context
Nomura’s Laser Digital experienced crypto-related losses earlier in 2026, leading to tightened risk limits but a maintained presence in the crypto sector with a more conservative approach. ZIGChain already collaborates with Standard Chartered and Apex Group, underlining its institutional focus. The partnership leverages Dubai-based operations and aims to apply institutional risk standards to onchain private credit products.
Key numbers and entities
Laser Digital (Nomura Group’s digital assets arm), ZIGChain, Abdul Rafay Gadit (ZIGChain co-founder), Jez Mohideen (Laser Digital CEO), Standard Chartered, Apex Group. The investment is understood to be in the high single-digit millions but the exact figure is undisclosed.
What remains unclear
The exact size of Laser Digital’s investment in ZIGChain was not revealed. The source does not provide specific timelines or detailed mechanisms for how the onchain private credit products will operate, nor does it clarify the concrete role or structure of the risk frameworks to be implemented.