A new survey conducted by Nomura and its digital assets arm, Laser Digital, reveals that institutional investors are increasingly embracing digital assets, driven by improving sentiment and expanding use cases. The study, which gathered responses from over 500 investment professionals in Japan, found that 31% of respondents now hold a positive outlook on crypto for the next year, marking a 6% increase from 2024. Meanwhile, the number of respondents with negative views has decreased, indicating a gradual shift in perception as the asset class matures.
A key finding is that 65% of respondents view crypto as a vital portfolio diversifier, with 79% of those considering investment planning to allocate funds within the next three years. Notably, most institutions expect to allocate between 2% and 5% of their portfolio to crypto, suggesting that they are still in the early stages of adoption. This shift is supported by a changing regulatory landscape, with policymakers in Japan refining crypto frameworks and global markets introducing clearer rules and innovative investment products, such as ETFs and tokenized assets.
As a result, institutions are looking beyond mere price exposure, with over 60% of respondents expressing interest in staking, lending, derivatives, and tokenized assets. Stablecoins are also gaining popularity, with 63% of respondents identifying potential use cases, including treasury management and cross-border payments. While concerns around volatility, counterparty risk, and valuation frameworks persist, the survey suggests that the conversation is shifting from whether to invest in crypto to how to do so, indicating that digital assets are becoming an increasingly important component of institutional portfolios.