Updated:
Komainu
The Institutional Gateway for Digital Assets - backed by Laser Digital and Blockstream | Komainu is the institutional gateway for digital assets, headquartered...
Komainu
The Institutional Gateway for Digital Assets - backed by Laser Digital and Blockstream | Komainu is the institutional gateway for digital assets, headquartered in Jersey, with offices in London, Dubai, and Singapore. Offering bank-grade infrastructure for institutional investors, Komainu provides seamless, connected and secure services with multi-jurisdictional regulatory oversight, merging expertise from traditional financial services with leading security standards for the next generation of institutional digital asset custody, servicing & financing solutions.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2018
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Jersey
City
Jersey
Corporate office
Jersey, Channel Islands
Additional offices
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Principals
Paul Frost-Smith
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Robert Johnson
Co-Chief Executive Officer & Chief Technology Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does Komainu source its institutional clients?
Komainu's client pipeline is built directly through the traditional finance relationships of its founding partners and leadership team. Its board includes executives from Nomura's digital asset arm, Laser Digital, and its co-CEOs bring decades of institutional capital markets experience from firms such as JPMorgan, Credit Suisse, and MUFG Securities. Additionally, its regulatory approvals in Jersey, Dubai, the United Kingdom, and Italy serve as a funnel for compliance-sensitive allocators and banks.
Does Komainu participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Komainu does not deploy capital into external funds or direct deals. Its model is to provide the technological and regulatory infrastructure for institutions that want to hold, trade, or use digital assets as collateral. The company itself has raised capital from strategic investors, including a $75 million Series B led by Blockstream in 2025, but it acts as the picks-and-shovels provider, not an allocator.
How is Komainu related to Nomura, CoinShares, and Ledger?
Komainu was established as a standalone joint venture by the three firms in 2018. They remain strategic shareholders and continue to influence governance through board seats: Nomura's digital asset division, Laser Digital, holds representation, and Blockstream — a later strategic investor — also has board participation. The venture operates independently with its own management, balance sheet, and regulatory perimeter.
What regulatory licenses does Komainu hold?
Komainu holds regulatory approval from the Jersey Financial Services Commission, a Virtual Asset Service Provider license from Dubai's VARA since 2023, crypto registration from the UK Financial Conduct Authority, and registration with Italy's OAM registry, both obtained in 2025. The firm has built its compliance framework around multi-jurisdictional operation from its inception.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on asset managers?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: