Nearly 80% of Japan Institutions Plan Crypto Buys

TLDR

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

Institutional investors in Japan are moving toward direct crypto exposure, according to a new survey by Nomura and Laser Digital. Nearly 80% of respondents said they plan to add digital assets within three years. The findings show a shift from observation to structured portfolio planning.

Nomura and its digital asset arm Laser Digital surveyed in December and January. The study gathered responses from 518 investment professionals across institutional investors, family offices, and public-interest organizations. The results show that institutions now focus on allocation strategies rather than entry timing.

Japan Institutions Shift Toward Portfolio Allocation

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

Sentiment toward crypto also improved compared with 2024. About 31% described their outlook as positive, while 25% reported positive sentiment in 2024. Negative sentiment declined to 18%, which reflects improving confidence in the asset class.

Japan continues to refine its regulatory framework for digital assets. Authorities began regulating exchanges after the Mt. Gox collapse in 2014. Recent updates align crypto oversight with the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.

Regulatory clarity has supported domestic industry growth. Companies such as SBI Holdings operate large crypto businesses in Japan. Exchanges like bitFlyer also maintain established market positions.

Traditional financial institutions have expanded their digital asset activities. Nomura launched Laser Digital in 2022 to pursue trading and asset management services. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group has tested tokenized deposits and stablecoin initiatives.

Expanding Interest Beyond Bitcoin Price Exposure

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

Stablecoins attracted attention from 63% of participants. Respondents identified treasury management, cross-border payments, and foreign exchange as potential use cases. Trust levels remain higher for stablecoins issued by major financial institutions.

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

However, the discussion has shifted from whether to invest to how to structure exposure. Institutions now examine allocation size, custody arrangements, and product selection. The survey captured this transition in sentiment and planning.

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

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