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The two entities have also entered a partnership to bring financial products such as private credit, PayFi, invoice financing and stablecoin-enabled infrastructure onchain, with Laser Digital providing expertise in institutional-grade risk governance.
• ZIGChain is targeting a minimum of $100 million in total value locked (TVL) across a pipeline of institutional-grade vault products.
DUBAI, August , 2026 – ZIGChain, the blockchain built to bring investment products onchain for institutions and everyday users, today announced that Laser Digital, the digital assets arm of the Nomura Group, has made a strategic investment in $ZIG and entered into a partnership with ZIG Markets, the product and access layer within ZIGChain’s ecosystem, to bring institutional-grade financial products onchain. Onchain private credit has emerged as one of the standout use cases within the $30+ billion of tokenized real-world assets today, attracting growing institutional interest across both origination and distribution. Yet while global asset managers have accelerated adoption, credible institutional origination from within emerging markets has remained limited.
This partnership addresses that gap directly. ZIG Markets provides deep regional origination capabilities, while Laser Digital brings its global asset management expertise to risk governance and oversight. The result combines local market access with internationally recognised standards, applying global best practices to emerging market private credit rather than simply bringing another source of yield onchain. Under the terms of the partnership, Laser Digital will provide product structuring support, risk framework design, and governance across a pipeline of ZIG Markets vault products. ZIGChain is targeting a minimum of $100 million in total value locked (TVL) across these products.
The two entities will also pursue a shared vision to build onchain infrastructure spanning private credit, including but not limited to PayFi, SME financing, invoice factoring, and stablecoin-enabled financial products. This will bring institutional discipline to categories that have historically been difficult to access at scale. “Onchain finance has had no shortage of capital chasing opportunities,” said Abdul Rafay Gadit, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of ZIGChain. “What’s been lacking is institutional credibility towards onchain financial products. Our partnership with Laser Digital brings institutional governance, product expertise, and global best practices to our offering, making it more accessible to banks, family offices, and other investors who may not otherwise engage directly with DeFi infrastructure. For us, this is a truly exciting partnership because it can help position us as the institutional standard for onchain finance.”
Dr. Jez Mohideen, Co-founder and CEO, Laser Digital, added, “We have been watching this category and while the opportunity in onchain finance is real, execution risk has been consistently underestimated. ZIG Markets brings regional depth and an origination track record, and as an investor and partner, our role is to apply the same higher standards of institutional risk frameworks we use across our broader offerings. The shared vision remains to make the next generation of asset management products accessible to those moving serious institutional capital.”
The partnership adds to a period of sustained institutional momentum for ZIGChain, following partnerships with Beehive, Taurus, and ADI Foundation, and a growing pipeline of real-world asset products across MENAP and beyond. The first product from the Laser Digital partnership is expected to be launched in the coming months, with further details to follow as it nears completion.
Disclaimer:
This is a strategic investment combined with an active institutional role in risk governance. It is not a new token launch, not a public or retail raise, and does not represent a change of control of ZIGChain or ZIG Markets. Co-branding of individual products will be confirmed separately as each product nears launch. The investment amount and token price are not being disclosed.
About ZIGChain ZIGChain is a Layer 1 blockchain purpose-built for regulated, institutional investment opportunities onchain. It is the infrastructure through which institutions launch compliant investment products and retail users participate alongside them.
Learn more at ZIGChain.com. About Laser Digital
Laser Digital is a full-service digital asset firm specializing in Trading, Asset Management, Solutions, and Early-Stage Investing. Nomura established Laser Digital to provide new value in digital assets to its clients, bridging traditional and crypto markets. We are positioned uniquely in the market, combining institutional-grade framework and risk management. Laser Digital is regulated by VARA and ADGM’s FSRA.
Laser Digital Disclaimer
This is a marketing communication intended for professional investors in eligible jurisdictions only. It does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Forecasts are not reliable indicators of future performance. Capital is at risk. Please consult the relevant offering documentation before making any investment decisions.
