Nomura Survey: 80% of Institutions Plan to Allocate 2%–5% to Crypto; DeFi Gains Focus

According to ChainCatcher, Nomura Securities' "2026 Institutional Investor Survey on Digital Assets" reveals that nearly 80% of institutional investors plan to allocate 2%–5% of their total assets under management to cryptocurrency. Sixty-five percent of surveyed institutions view cryptocurrency as a diversification tool on par with equities, bonds, and commodities. The survey included institutional investors and family offices managing over $60 billion in assets. Regarding investment strategies, more than two-thirds of respondents aim to generate returns through DeFi mechanisms such as staking; 65% are focused on lending and tokenized assets, while 63% are exploring derivatives and stablecoins. Additionally, 63% of respondents believe stablecoins have practical applications in cash management, cross-border payments, and investing in tokenized assets, with stablecoins issued by major financial institutions being the most trusted. Nomura Securities noted that regulatory clarity, increased awareness, and improved risk management frameworks are key to expanding investment. Although challenges such as the lack of clear valuation methodologies and regulatory uncertainty persist, the development of diversified investment products and advancements in risk management practices are accelerating institutional adoption.