Majority of Institutional Investors View Crypto as Key to Portfolio Diversification, Study Finds

A new study from Nomura and its digital asset subsidiary, Laser Digital, indicates a growing acceptance of digital assets among institutional investors, driven by improving sentiment and an expanding range of use cases. The survey, which polled over 500 investment professionals in Japan, found that 31% of respondents now hold a positive view of crypto's prospects over the next year, up from 25% in 2024, while negative sentiment has decreased, reflecting a gradual shift in perception as the asset class matures. The key theme emerging from the study is the role of diversification, with 65% of respondents viewing crypto as a vital component of portfolio diversification, and 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 that they are still in the early stages of adoption. This shift is being supported by a changing regulatory environment, with policymakers in Japan refining crypto frameworks over the past year, and clearer rules in major global markets 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 staking, lending, derivatives, and tokenized assets, reflecting a growing demand for yield-generating strategies and more sophisticated portfolio construction. 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. While concerns around volatility, counterparty risk, and valuation frameworks remain, 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 integrated into institutional portfolios.