65% of Institutional Investors Consider Crypto a Crucial Portfolio Diversification Tool, According to Nomura Study

A growing number of institutional investors are embracing digital assets, driven by improving sentiment and an expanding range of use cases, as indicated by a recent survey from Nomura and its digital assets subsidiary, Laser Digital. The survey, which gathered responses from over 500 investment professionals in Japan, found that 31% of respondents now have a positive outlook on crypto for the next year, up from 25% in 2024. Meanwhile, the percentage of respondents with negative views has decreased, suggesting a gradual shift in perception as the asset class matures. A key finding is that 65% of respondents view crypto as a vital tool for portfolio diversification, with 79% of those considering investing in crypto planning to do so within the next three years. Most institutions anticipate allocating between 2% and 5% of their portfolios to crypto, indicating that they are still in the early stages of adoption. This shift is supported by a changing regulatory landscape, with policymakers in Japan refining crypto frameworks over the past year, including discussions around classification, taxation, and investor protections. The introduction of clearer rules in major markets, along with the approval and expansion of crypto investment products such as ETFs and tokenized assets, has reduced some of the uncertainty that previously deterred institutions from investing in crypto. As a result, interest in crypto is expanding beyond simple price exposure, with over 60% of respondents expressing interest in staking, lending, derivatives, and tokenized assets, reflecting a growing demand for yield-generating strategies and more sophisticated portfolio construction. Stablecoins are also gaining traction, with 63% of respondents identifying potential use cases such as treasury management, cross-border payments, and investment in tokenized securities. However, challenges persist, including concerns around volatility, counterparty risk, and the lack of established valuation frameworks, which continue to hinder adoption. Despite these challenges, the survey suggests that the conversation around crypto is shifting, with institutions increasingly focused on how to invest in crypto rather than whether to do so, indicating that digital assets are moving closer to becoming a standard component of institutional portfolios.