Institutional clients will have access to Nomura's over-the-counter bitcoin futures and options. According to media sources, they will be non-deliverable and must be settled in cash.
Rig Karkhanis, Nomura's head of markets, Asia ex-Japan (AEJ), said in a statement regarding the relationship with Cumberland DRW,
"Working with institutional-grade counterparties will allow us to scale into the increasing demand from our clients."
Even though crypto markets have been in a downward trend for the past few months, demand for such services from institutional and private investors has grown, leading large investment banks to enter the market.
The current crypto market crash, which has caused a $300 billion loss in just four days, will fuel calls for more regulation.
"We expect the sector to mature over time and become more regulated, making it more attractive for an institutional investor," Tim Albers, head of Forex Structuring, AEJ, Nomura, said.
Nomura's interest in cryptocurrency dates back to May 2018, when it launched Komainu, the first crypto custodial bank. It teamed up with Ledger, a crypto security and infrastructure solution provider, and Global Advisors, a bitcoin-focused investment firm.
Large-scale investments in cryptocurrency by investment bankers have been hampered by storage and security concerns. The action was intended to pique the attention of institutional investors in digital assets.
It partnered with Ledger and investment firm CoinShares to create a custodial solution for traditional investors through Komainu in July 2020. According to the business, Komainu is the first regulated digital asset custody solution designed by institutions for institutions.