A new study by Nomura and its digital assets arm, Laser Digital, indicates that institutional investors are increasingly embracing digital assets, driven by improving sentiment and the emergence of new use cases. The survey, which polled over 500 investment professionals in Japan, found a significant increase in positive sentiment towards crypto, with 31% of respondents now holding a favorable outlook for the next year, up from 25% in 2024. Meanwhile, negative sentiment has decreased, reflecting 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 do so within the next three years. Most institutions expect to allocate between 2% and 5% of their portfolio to crypto, 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 crypto frameworks and global markets introducing clearer rules and approving new crypto investment products.
As a result, institutions are looking 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. While concerns around volatility, counterparty risk, and valuation frameworks 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 a more mainstream component of institutional portfolios.