A new study by Nomura and its cryptocurrency division, Laser Digital, shows that institutional investors are increasingly embracing digital assets, driven by improving sentiment and the emergence of broader use cases. The survey, which collected responses from over 500 investment professionals in Japan, found that 31% of respondents now hold a positive view of cryptocurrency over the next year, up from 25% in 2024. Meanwhile, the decline in negative sentiment suggests a gradual shift in perception as the asset class matures. The key theme is diversification, with 65% of respondents viewing cryptocurrency as a means of diversifying their portfolios, and 79% of those considering investment planning to do so within three years.
Most institutions expect to allocate between 2% and 5% of their portfolio to cryptocurrency, 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 cryptocurrency frameworks over the past year, and clearer rules in major global markets reducing uncertainty. As a result, interest in cryptocurrency is expanding beyond simple price exposure, with over 60% of respondents 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, concerns around volatility, counterparty risk, and valuation frameworks continue to hinder adoption. Despite this, the survey suggests that the conversation is shifting from whether to invest in cryptocurrency to how to do so, indicating that digital assets are becoming a more standard component of institutional portfolios.