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

A new survey from Nomura and its digital assets subsidiary, Laser Digital, indicates that institutional investors are increasingly embracing digital assets, driven by improving sentiment and the emergence of new use cases. 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 number of respondents with a negative view has decreased, suggesting a gradual shift in perception as the asset class matures. The primary reason for this shift is diversification, with 65% of respondents viewing crypto as a vital tool for diversifying their portfolios. Furthermore, 79% of those considering investing in crypto plan to do so within the next three years, with most expecting to allocate between 2% and 5% of their portfolio to digital assets. This growing interest in crypto is supported by a changing regulatory landscape, with clearer rules in major markets and the introduction of new crypto investment products, such as exchange-traded funds and tokenized assets, reducing uncertainty and encouraging institutions to explore digital assets beyond simple price exposure. Over 60% of respondents expressed interest in more complex strategies, including staking, lending, derivatives, and tokenized assets, reflecting a growing demand for yield-generating strategies and more sophisticated portfolio construction. Additionally, stablecoins are gaining traction, with 63% of respondents identifying potential use cases, including treasury management, cross-border payments, and investment in tokenized securities. While concerns around volatility, counterparty risk, and valuation frameworks persist, the survey suggests that the conversation around crypto is shifting, with institutions increasingly focused on how to invest in digital assets, rather than whether to do so, indicating that crypto is becoming a more mainstream component of institutional portfolios.