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

A new survey conducted by Nomura and its crypto subsidiary, Laser Digital, indicates that institutional investors are increasingly embracing digital assets, driven by improving sentiment and the emergence of new use cases. The study, which collected responses from over 500 Japanese investment professionals, found that 31% of respondents now have a positive outlook on crypto for the next year, up from 25% in 2024. Meanwhile, the number of respondents with negative sentiments has decreased, suggesting a gradual shift in perception as the asset class matures. A key finding is that 65% of respondents view crypto as a vital tool for portfolio diversification, with 79% of those considering investment planning to do so within the next three years. Most institutions expect to allocate between 2% and 5% of their portfolios to crypto, indicating that they are still in the early stages of adoption. This shift is supported by a changing regulatory landscape, with Japan refining its crypto frameworks and global markets introducing clearer rules and approving new investment products such as ETFs and tokenized assets. As a result, institutions are looking beyond simple price exposure, with over 60% expressing interest in staking, lending, derivatives, and tokenized assets. Stablecoins are also gaining traction, with 63% of respondents identifying potential use cases such as treasury management and cross-border payments. However, challenges remain, including concerns over volatility, counterparty risk, and valuation frameworks. Despite these challenges, the survey suggests that institutions are shifting their focus from whether to invest in crypto to how to do so, indicating that digital assets are becoming a more mainstream component of institutional portfolios.