ZIGChain partners with Nomura's Laser Digital for institutional DeFi

The collaboration focuses on ZIG Markets, the access layer within the ZIGChain ecosystem, to structure and govern a new pipeline of financial products. Rather than chasing traditional onchain yields, the initiative prioritizes private credit, invoice financing, and PayFi services. Laser Digital will oversee risk framework design, applying the same institutional oversight used in its broader asset management operations to assets originating from regional markets.

Abdul Rafay Gadit, co-founder of ZIGChain, noted that while onchain finance has successfully attracted capital, the sector still requires greater credibility to satisfy banks and family offices. By integrating Laser Digital’s global expertise, the project seeks to formalize risk controls for assets that are often difficult to access at scale. Dr. Jez Mohideen, CEO of Laser Digital, emphasized that the partnership addresses the often-underestimated execution risks inherent in current decentralized finance models.

The venture intends to deploy these institutional vaults in the coming months, marking another expansion for ZIGChain following its recent agreements with Taurus and the ADI Foundation. While the specific financial terms of the investment remain undisclosed, the companies confirmed that their initial focus remains on MENAP markets. This move positions ZIGChain among a growing number of platforms attempting to bring real-world assets into the tokenized ecosystem through rigorous governance.