A new survey conducted by Nomura and its digital assets arm, Laser Digital, indicates a significant shift in the attitude of institutional investors towards digital assets. The study, which gathered responses from over 500 investment professionals in Japan, found that 31% of respondents now hold a positive view of crypto's prospects over the next year, marking an increase from 25% in 2024. Meanwhile, the proportion of respondents with negative sentiments has decreased, signaling a gradual change in perception as the asset class continues to mature.
A key finding of the study is the importance of diversification, with 65% of respondents viewing crypto as a vital component of portfolio diversification. Furthermore, 79% of those considering investing in crypto plan to do so within the next three years, with most expecting to allocate between 2% and 5% of their portfolio to digital assets. This shift towards greater adoption is supported by a changing regulatory landscape, both in Japan and globally. The development of clearer rules and guidelines in major markets, alongside the approval and expansion of crypto investment products such as ETFs and tokenized assets, has reduced some of the uncertainty that previously deterred institutional investors.
As a result, interest in digital assets is expanding beyond simple price exposure, with over 60% of respondents expressing interest in more sophisticated strategies such as staking, lending, derivatives, and tokenized assets. Stablecoins are also gaining traction, with 63% of respondents identifying potential use cases ranging from treasury management to cross-border payments and investment in tokenized securities.
However, challenges persist, including concerns over volatility, counterparty risk, and the lack of established valuation frameworks. Despite these challenges, the survey suggests that the conversation around digital assets is evolving, with institutions increasingly focused on how to invest in crypto rather than whether to do so, indicating that digital assets are becoming a more mainstream component of institutional portfolios.