Japan’s Largest Wealth Manager Scales Back Crypto After Q3 Losses

Core Viewpoint - Nomura Holdings is tightening risk controls at its European crypto subsidiary, Laser Digital Holdings, following third-quarter losses attributed to market volatility, indicating a cautious approach towards digital assets amid significant unrealized losses reported by firms in the sector [1][3]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Nomura's net income for the quarter ended December 31 dropped 9.7% year-over-year to ¥91.6 billion ($590 million), leading to a 6.7% decline in shares, the largest intraday drop in over nine months [2]. - The international operations of Nomura earned ¥16.3 billion before taxes, marking the 10th consecutive profitable quarter, although this was approximately 70% lower than the previous year due to losses in Europe [4]. - Despite the crypto setbacks, the firm reported the highest pretax income in 18 years across its four segments, with Wealth Management achieving record-high recurring revenue and Investment Management assets reaching an all-time high of ¥134.7 trillion following a $1.8 billion acquisition [5]. Group 2: Risk Management and Strategy - The CFO, Hiroyuki Moriuchi, confirmed that Nomura is reducing risk at its digital asset unit due to market fluctuations, emphasizing the need for strict position management to mitigate risks [3][4]. - Nomura announced plans to buy back up to ¥60 billion in shares, representing 3.2% of its outstanding stock, as part of its strategy to enhance shareholder value [5]. Group 3: Industry Context - The challenges faced by Nomura reflect broader issues within the crypto treasury sector, where major holders are reporting substantial unrealized losses, including a reported $17.44 billion loss on digital assets for the three months ended December 31 [6].