A new survey conducted by Nomura and its crypto division, Laser Digital, indicates that institutional investors are becoming increasingly accepting of digital assets, driven by improving sentiment and the emergence of new use cases. The study, which gathered responses from over 500 investment professionals in Japan, found that 31% of respondents now have a positive outlook on crypto for the upcoming year, up from 25% in 2024.
Meanwhile, the percentage of respondents with negative views has decreased, suggesting a gradual shift in perception as the asset class continues to mature. A key theme emerging from the survey is the role of diversification, with 65% of respondents viewing crypto as a vital tool for diversifying their portfolios. 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 is supported by a changing regulatory landscape, with policymakers in Japan refining crypto frameworks over the past year.
Globally, clearer regulations and the approval of crypto investment products such as ETFs and tokenized assets have reduced uncertainty, encouraging institutions to participate. 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.
Stablecoins are also gaining traction, with 63% of respondents identifying potential use cases such as treasury management and cross-border payments. However, barriers to adoption remain, including concerns around volatility, counterparty risk, and the lack of established valuation frameworks.
Despite these challenges, the survey suggests that the conversation around crypto is shifting, with institutions increasingly focused on how to invest in digital assets rather than whether to do so, indicating that crypto is moving closer to becoming a standard component of institutional portfolios.