A growing number of institutional investors are embracing digital assets, driven by improving sentiment and the emergence of new use cases, according to a recent survey conducted by Nomura and its digital assets arm, Laser Digital. The survey, 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 declined, indicating a gradual shift in perception as the asset class matures. A key finding is that 65% of respondents consider crypto a vital portfolio diversifier, 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 portfolio to crypto, suggesting they are still in the early stages of adoption. This shift is supported by a changing regulatory landscape, with policymakers in Japan refining crypto frameworks over the past year, including discussions on classification, taxation, and investor protections.
Globally, clearer regulations and the approval of crypto investment products such as ETFs and tokenized assets have reduced uncertainty, prompting institutions to move beyond simple price exposure. Over 60% of respondents expressed 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 including treasury management, cross-border payments, and investment in tokenized securities. Despite remaining barriers such as volatility, counterparty risk, and the lack of established valuation frameworks, the survey indicates that the conversation among institutions is shifting from whether to invest in crypto to how to do so, suggesting that digital assets are becoming a more standard component of institutional portfolios.