A new survey conducted by Nomura and its digital asset arm, Laser Digital, indicates a growing acceptance of digital assets among institutional investors, fueled by improving sentiment and an expanding range of use cases. The study, which gathered responses from over 500 investment professionals in Japan, found that 31% of respondents now hold a positive view of crypto for the upcoming year, marking an increase from 25% in 2024. Meanwhile, the decline in negative sentiment suggests a gradual shift in perception as the crypto market matures.
A key finding is that 65% of respondents view crypto as a vital diversification tool for their portfolios, with 79% of those considering investment planning to do so within the next three years. Most institutions anticipate allocating between 2% and 5% of their portfolios to crypto, indicating they are still in the early stages of adoption. This shift is supported by a changing regulatory landscape, with Japanese policymakers refining crypto frameworks over the past year, including discussions on classification, taxation, and investor protection.
Globally, clearer regulations in major markets, coupled with the approval and expansion of crypto investment products such as ETFs and tokenized assets, have reduced uncertainty and encouraged institutional involvement. As a result, interest in crypto extends 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 management.
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 over volatility, counterparty risk, and the lack of established valuation frameworks.
Despite these challenges, the survey indicates a shift in the conversation, with institutions increasingly focused on how to invest in crypto rather than whether to do so, suggesting that digital assets are moving closer to becoming a standard component of institutional investment portfolios.