Survey Reveals 65% of Institutional Investors Consider Crypto Crucial for Portfolio Diversification

A new survey conducted by Nomura, a Tokyo-based bank, and its crypto division Laser Digital, reveals that institutional investors are increasingly embracing 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, while negative sentiment has decreased, signifying a gradual shift in perception as the asset class matures. A key finding is that 65% of respondents view crypto as a vital means of diversifying their portfolios, with 79% of those considering investment planning to do so within three years, typically allocating between 2% and 5% of their portfolio, indicating that institutions are still in the early stages of adoption. This shift is supported by a changing regulatory landscape, with clearer rules in major markets and the approval of crypto investment products such as ETFs and tokenized assets, reducing uncertainty and encouraging institutions to invest. As a result, interest in crypto is expanding beyond mere price exposure, with over 60% of respondents expressing interest in yield-generating strategies such as staking, lending, derivatives, and tokenized assets. Stablecoins are also gaining popularity, with 63% of respondents identifying potential use cases including treasury management, cross-border payments, and investment in tokenized securities. Despite remaining concerns around volatility, counterparty risk, and valuation frameworks, 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 a more standard component of institutional portfolios.