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 the emergence of new use cases, as revealed in a recent survey by Nomura and its crypto subsidiary, Laser Digital. 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, negative sentiment has decreased, indicating a gradual shift in perception as the asset class matures. A key theme emerging from the survey is the role of crypto in diversifying investment portfolios, with 65% of respondents viewing it as a vital component. Furthermore, 79% of those considering investment 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 shift is supported by a changing regulatory landscape, with clearer rules and the expansion of crypto investment products reducing uncertainty and encouraging institutions to invest. As a result, interest in crypto is expanding beyond simple price exposure, with over 60% of respondents expressing interest in more sophisticated strategies such as staking, lending, and tokenized assets. Stablecoins are also gaining popularity, with 63% of respondents identifying potential use cases. However, challenges such as volatility, counterparty risk, and regulatory uncertainty remain, although the survey suggests that the conversation is shifting from whether to invest in crypto to how to do so, indicating that digital assets are becoming increasingly mainstream in institutional portfolios.