Japanese Banking Giant Cuts Crypto Bets After Q3 Profit Slump
Nomura, Japan’s greatest brokerage and banking big, mentioned it’ll briefly trim its cryptocurrency positions after a weak quarter that dented earnings and tightened its short-term threat tolerance. The pullback seems aimed toward smoothing swings to earnings whereas the agency retains its longer-term plans for digital property alive.
Bank Cuts Crypto Exposure After Profit Decline
According to earnings disclosures and firm remarks, Nomura’s web revenue fell almost 10 p.c within the third quarter that ended December 31, leaving group revenue decrease than a yr earlier and prompting administration to curb some crypto buying and selling positions to restrict additional hits.
Nomura’s European crypto arm, Laser Digital, had posted buying and selling losses in the course of the interval, which administration singled out as a key issue behind the transfer to tighten place limits.
Reports word that executives described the steps as non permanent and focused — not an exit from the market however a strategy to handle volatility whereas different components of the enterprise continue to grow.
We’ve simply introduced our 3Q 2025-26 monetary outcomes. Here are some key figures from this quarter. View the total announcement right here: https://t.co/mdYHgOnN5u pic.twitter.com/sosuQqihni
— Nomura (@Nomura) January 30, 2026
Short-Term Pullback, Long-Term Play
There is a break up within the timeline. On one hand, Laser Digital has lately filed paperwork to increase its providers overseas, together with making use of for a US nationwide belief financial institution constitution because it seeks to supply custody and buying and selling to institutional shoppers.
On the opposite hand, buying and selling desks that took losses are being placed on a tighter leash so quarterly outcomes don’t swing wildly. That two-track strategy is what analysts say explains the seeming contradiction.
Investors reacted rapidly. Nomura’s shares slipped after the earnings replace, reflecting market concern in regards to the hit to European operations and the additional prices tied to a big acquisition accomplished within the interval.
Management has flagged that one-off costs performed a task within the weaker revenue line, alongside the buying and selling losses.
Risk Controls Tightened, Growth Goals Kept
Reports say Nomura has tightened threat controls round digital-asset positions and is conducting stricter oversight of exposures that may swing with crypto worth strikes.
At the identical time, executives confused the agency’s broader dedication to constructing crypto infrastructure and providers over the medium to long run, slightly than abandoning the sector outright.
The rapid impact is evident: fewer giant directional bets within the buying and selling guide and extra cautious place sizing. That reduces revenue volatility however can restrict upside if crypto costs rebound sharply.
Featured picture from The Exchange Asia, chart from Buying and sellingView
