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

The adoption of digital assets is gaining momentum among institutional investors, driven by improving sentiment and the emergence of new use cases, as indicated by a recent survey conducted by Nomura, a Tokyo-based bank, and its crypto 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 decreased, reflecting a gradual shift in perception as the asset class matures. A key theme that emerged is 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 portfolio to crypto, indicating that 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 protection. Globally, clearer regulations in major markets, along with the approval and expansion of crypto investment products such as ETFs and tokenized assets, have reduced some of the uncertainty that previously deterred institutions. 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. However, barriers to adoption still exist, including concerns about volatility, counterparty risk, and the lack of established valuation frameworks. Regulatory uncertainty, although improving, has not been fully eliminated. Nevertheless, the survey suggests that the conversation is shifting, with institutions now focusing on how to invest in crypto rather than debating whether to do so, indicating that digital assets are moving closer to becoming a standard component of institutional portfolios.