The share of respondents with a positive outlook on crypto over the next 12 months rose to 31%, up from 25% in 2024.
Crypto News
A new survey from Tokyo-based Nomura and its crypto division Laser Digital has found that institutional sentiment toward digital assets is improving in Japan. The study gathered responses from more than 500 investment professionals.
Portfolio diversification is the primary reason institutions cite for their interest. Of the respondents, 65% said they view crypto as a diversifier for their portfolios. Among those actively considering an allocation, 79% said they plan to invest within three years. Most expect to keep allocations between 2% and 5% of total portfolio value, suggesting a measured approach rather than aggressive positioning.
Regulatory developments in Japan have played a role in improving sentiment. Policymakers have spent the past year working through crypto classification, taxation rules, and investor protection standards. The global expansion of regulated investment products, including ETFs and tokenized assets, has also reduced some of the uncertainty that previously kept institutions on the sidelines.
Interest is moving beyond simple spot exposure. More than 60% of respondents expressed interest in staking, lending, derivatives, and tokenized assets. That reflects demand for yield-generating strategies and more complex approaches to crypto portfolio construction.
Stablecoins attracted attention from 63% of respondents. Use cases cited include treasury management, cross-border payments, and access to tokenized securities. The breadth of interest suggests institutions are thinking about digital assets as functional financial infrastructure, not just a price bet.
Obstacles to adoption remain. Volatility, counterparty risk, and the absence of widely accepted valuation methods continue to weigh on decision-making. Regulatory clarity, while improving, is still incomplete across major jurisdictions. The survey suggests, however, that the dominant institutional question has shifted from whether to invest to how to structure that investment.
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