Survey Reveals 65% of Institutional Investors Consider Crypto a Key Portfolio Diversifier

A new survey conducted by Nomura and its digital assets division, Laser Digital, reveals a significant shift in sentiment among institutional investors towards digital assets. The study, 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, indicating a gradual change in perception as the asset class matures. A key finding is that 65% of respondents view crypto as a vital component for portfolio diversification, with 79% of those considering investment planning to do so within the next three years. Most institutions expect to allocate between 2% and 5% of their portfolio to crypto, suggesting 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. Globally, clearer regulations and the approval of crypto investment products have reduced uncertainty, prompting institutions to move beyond simple price exposure. Over 60% of respondents expressed interest in more complex strategies such as staking, lending, derivatives, and tokenized assets, reflecting a growing demand for yield-generating investments and sophisticated portfolio construction. Stablecoins are also gaining popularity, with 63% of respondents identifying potential use cases such as treasury management and cross-border payments. Despite this growth, concerns around volatility, counterparty risk, and valuation frameworks remain. However, the survey suggests that the focus is shifting from whether to invest in crypto to how to do so, indicating that digital assets are becoming increasingly accepted as a standard component of institutional portfolios.