A new survey from Nomura and its crypto-focused subsidiary 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 gathered responses from over 500 investment professionals in Japan, found that 31% of respondents now have a positive outlook on crypto for the next year, up from 25% in 2024. Meanwhile, negative sentiment has decreased, suggesting 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 over the past year. Globally, clearer regulations and the expansion of crypto investment products have reduced uncertainty, encouraging institutions to explore digital assets beyond simple price exposure.
Over 60% of respondents expressed interest in staking, lending, derivatives, and tokenized assets, reflecting growing demand for yield-generating strategies and more complex portfolio construction. Stablecoins are also gaining traction, with 63% of respondents identifying potential use cases such as treasury management and cross-border payments.
However, concerns around volatility, counterparty risk, and valuation frameworks continue to hinder adoption. Despite these challenges, 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 standard component of institutional portfolios.