The post Laser Digital Launches Regulated Crypto Options Desk in Dubai appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.

Laser Digital, the digital asset subsidiary of Japan’s investment bank Nomura, has become the first company licensed under Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) pilot framework to offer regulated over-the-counter (OTC) crypto options. The “limited license” will allow Laser Digital to offer OTC crypto options to institutional clients under strict oversight, the company said Wednesday. OTC desks allow institutions to trade large volumes of digital assets directly with counterparties, minimizing slippage and enabling more flexible pricing. These desks are typically used by hedge funds, asset managers, trading firms and other high-volume and institutional clients. The move positions Laser Digital to capitalize on Dubai’s demand for regulated crypto derivatives. The company plans to offer tools for hedging, yield generation and volatility management while regulators assess market readiness and risk controls before broader expansion. Related: How to use cryptocurrency to buy a home in Dubai (legally and safely)  Global regulation of OTC crypto options is still in the early stages A small but growing number of jurisdictions are beginning to regulate OTC crypto options desks, with Dubai and the United Kingdom leading the way. In December 2023, the investment arm of UK-based pension giant M&G invested $20 million in GFO-X, the country’s first regulated Bitcoin derivatives exchange. The funding was part of a $30 million Series B round aimed at launching a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)-regulated, centrally cleared platform for Bitcoin index futures and options. Across the EU, crypto derivatives fall under broader financial regulations like MiFID II and EMIR, which impose reporting and clearing requirements. However, most member states have yet to introduce crypto-specific OTC licensing. In the United States, the CFTC permits some institutional trading of crypto derivatives under existing laws, but there is no dedicated licensing framework for OTC crypto options desks. Dubai, by contrast, rolled out its comprehensive…

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Filed under: News - @ August 7, 2025 2:35 pm