According to a new survey conducted by Nomura and its crypto arm Laser Digital, institutional investors are increasingly embracing 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 cryptocurrency over the next year, up from 25% in 2024, while negative sentiment has declined, indicating a gradual shift in perception as the asset class matures. A key finding is that 65% of respondents view cryptocurrency as a vital portfolio diversifier, with 79% of those considering investment planning to do so within three years, typically allocating between 2% and 5% of their portfolio.
This shift is being driven by a changing regulatory landscape, with clearer rules in major markets and the expansion of crypto investment products reducing uncertainty. As a result, interest is expanding beyond simple price exposure, with over 60% of respondents expressing interest in staking, lending, derivatives, and tokenized assets, reflecting growing demand for yield-generating strategies. Stablecoins are also gaining traction, with 63% of respondents identifying potential use cases.
While barriers such as volatility and regulatory uncertainty remain, 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 increasingly mainstream in institutional portfolios.