Survey: Nearly 80% of Japanese Institutions Plan Cryptocurrency Investments

TLDR

• Close to 80% of institutional investors in Japan plan to add crypto to their investment portfolios within the next three years.
• Over half of survey respondents aim to allocate between 2% and 5% of their total assets to digital assets.
• Positive sentiment toward crypto climbed to 31%, while negative sentiment dropped to 18%.
• More than 60% of participants have expressed interest in staking, lending, and other income-generating crypto strategies.
• Roughly 63% of respondents identified stablecoins as useful tools for treasury management and cross-border payments.

(SeaPRwire) –   Japanese institutional investors are moving toward gaining direct crypto exposure, according to a new survey from Nomura and Laser Digital. Nearly 80% of respondents stated they plan to add digital assets to their holdings within three years. The survey results highlight a shift from passive market observation to formal structured portfolio planning.

Nomura and its digital asset arm Laser Digital conducted the survey between December and January. The study collected responses from 518 investment professionals across institutional investor firms, family offices, and public-interest organizations. The results show institutions now prioritize building allocation strategies, rather than timing their market entry.

Japanese Institutions Shift Toward Crypto Portfolio Allocation

Almost 80% of respondents said they intend to invest in crypto within three years. More than half of these investors target allocations of 2% to 5% of their total portfolios. Respondents cited low correlation with traditional assets as a core driver for portfolio diversification.

Sentiment toward crypto has also improved compared to 2024 levels. Around 31% of respondents described their outlook as positive, up from 25% that reported positive sentiment in 2024. Negative sentiment fell to 18%, which reflects growing confidence in the crypto asset class.

Japan continues to refine its regulatory framework for digital assets. Authorities introduced regulation for crypto exchanges after the 2014 Mt. Gox collapse. Recent updates align crypto oversight with the country’s Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.

Regulatory clarity has supported growth of Japan’s domestic crypto industry. Firms such as SBI Holdings operate large crypto-focused businesses in Japan, and exchanges like bitFlyer hold established local market positions.

Traditional financial institutions have expanded their digital asset activities in recent years. Nomura launched Laser Digital in 2022 to deliver crypto trading and asset management services. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group has run trials for tokenized deposits and stablecoin projects.

Growing Interest Extends Beyond Bitcoin Price Exposure

Institutions are now exploring broader crypto strategies beyond holding direct asset positions. More than 60% expressed interest in income-generating strategies such as staking and lending. Respondents also highlighted derivatives and tokenized assets as key areas of focus.

Stablecoins attracted interest from 63% of survey participants. Respondents named treasury management, cross-border payments, and foreign exchange as top potential use cases for stablecoins. Participants reported higher trust levels for stablecoins issued by major established financial institutions.

Survey participants outlined several ongoing challenges in the crypto market. They cited limited standardized valuation frameworks and counterparty risks, including fraud and asset loss. High price volatility also remains a top concern for portfolio managers.

Even so, the industry conversation has shifted from whether to invest in crypto to how to structure crypto exposure. Institutions now examine allocation size, custody arrangements, and product selection, and the survey captured this clear transition in sentiment and planning.

Nomura remains one of the world’s largest financial services companies. Laser Digital supports the firm’s expansion into crypto trading, asset management, and venture investments. The survey’s findings draw from data collected between December and January across Japan’s professional investment community.