Nomura's Digital Arm Introduces Bitcoin Yield Fund Amid Institutional Demand

Nomura's digital asset division is set to unveil a new Bitcoin investment product focused on yield, catering to institutional investors seeking returns beyond mere price exposure. According to Cointelegraph, Laser Digital is launching the Bitcoin Diversified Yield Fund (BDYF) in response to the increasing market demand for tokenized yield-driven funds, as opposed to traditional long-only funds. The new fund aims to generate income through diversified strategies while maintaining Bitcoin exposure, marking a shift from conventional Bitcoin funds that primarily focus on price appreciation. Laser Digital's initiative comes as a response to the growing interest in tokenized, yield-oriented investment structures. The fund builds upon the company's previous Bitcoin Adoption Fund, launched in 2023, which offered directional exposure to Bitcoin without additional yield generation. The actively managed fund will utilize Kaio as its exclusive tokenization provider and Komainu as its primary custodian, targeting institutional and accredited investors. Jez Mohideen, co-founder and CEO of Laser Digital, highlighted the impact of recent market volatility on investor interest in strategies that offer returns independent of broader price fluctuations. He noted that the new fund allows Laser Digital to maintain its Bitcoin positions while leveraging the next phase of decentralized finance. Mohideen emphasized that yield-bearing, market-neutral funds based on calculated DeFi strategies represent the natural evolution of crypto asset management. A spokesperson for Laser Digital explained that the fund aims to combine Bitcoin exposure with income generated from market-neutral strategies, targeting lower volatility and limited correlation with broader crypto market movements. The approach is designed to complement direct Bitcoin holdings rather than replace them, differing from Laser Digital's 2023 fund, which did not generate additional yield beyond Bitcoin's spot price appreciation.