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

A new survey from Nomura and its crypto arm, Laser Digital, indicates a growing acceptance of digital assets among institutional investors, driven by improving sentiment and the emergence of new use cases. 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, while negative sentiment has decreased, reflecting a gradual shift in perception as the asset class matures. Diversification is a key theme, with 65% of respondents viewing crypto as a vital portfolio diversifier, and 79% of those considering investment planning to do so within three years, typically allocating between 2% and 5% of their portfolio. This shift is supported by a changing regulatory landscape, with clearer rules in major markets and the approval of crypto investment products reducing uncertainty. As a result, interest is expanding beyond simple price exposure, with over 60% of respondents expressing interest in staking, lending, derivatives, and tokenized assets, driven by demand for yield-generating strategies and more sophisticated portfolio construction. Stablecoins are also gaining traction, with 63% of respondents identifying potential use cases, including treasury management and cross-border payments. While barriers such as volatility and regulatory uncertainty remain, the survey suggests that institutions are shifting their focus from whether to invest in crypto to how to do so, indicating that digital assets are becoming increasingly integral to institutional portfolios.