According to a new survey conducted by Nomura and its cryptocurrency division, Laser Digital, 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 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 number of respondents with a negative outlook has decreased, indicating a gradual shift in perception as the asset class continues to mature. A key theme emerging from the study is the importance of diversification, with 65% of respondents considering cryptocurrency a vital component of their portfolio diversification strategy. Furthermore, 79% of those considering investing in cryptocurrency plan to do so within the next three years, with most expecting to allocate between 2% and 5% of their portfolio to digital assets. The shift towards greater adoption is being supported by a changing regulatory landscape, both in Japan and globally.
The introduction of clearer rules and guidelines in major markets, as well as the approval and expansion of cryptocurrency investment products such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and tokenized assets, has reduced some of the uncertainty that previously discouraged institutional investors. 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.
This reflects 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 ranging from treasury management to cross-border payments and investment in tokenized securities. However, barriers to adoption still exist, including concerns around volatility, counterparty risk, and the lack of established valuation frameworks. Despite these challenges, the survey suggests that the conversation around cryptocurrency is shifting, with institutions increasingly focused on how to invest in digital assets rather than whether to do so, indicating that cryptocurrency is moving closer to becoming a standard component of institutional portfolios.