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Investors want crypto, but not without TradFi backing: Nomura survey

A Nomura Laser Digital survey has revealed the majority of institutional investors polled are still keen on crypto.

Professional investors are still keen on crypto but want to see backing from large traditional financial institutions before taking the plunge themselves, a survey from Nomura’s digital asset arm has revealed.

Institutional investor interest in crypto has stalled in recent weeks due to increasing regulatory uncertainty in the United States and its regulatory crackdown on the wider industry.

In the Laser Digital Investor Survey conducted in April, 90% of professional investors polled said that it was important to have the backing of a “large traditional financial institution” for any crypto asset fund or investment vehicle before they or their clients would consider putting money into it.

However, a whopping 96% of them regarded digital assets as “representing an investment diversification opportunity” in addition to traditional asset classes such as fixed income, cash, equities, and commodities.

Industry observers have predicted an increase in institutional investment following the BlackRock spot ETF application. 

Furthermore, 82% of the professional investors interviewed were optimistic about the crypto asset class in general over the next 12 months. They specifically mentioned Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) with almost half of the respondents regarding the pair as the foundation of the Web3 economy and a “long-lasting source of investment opportunities.”

Dr. Jez Mohideen, CEO of Laser Digital said the study shows that institutional investors see a “clear role for digital assets in the investment management landscape and the benefits they can bring, such as greater diversification of portfolios.”

However, around three-quarters of them said “legal or regulatory restrictions” could prevent their firms or clients from investing in crypto-related funds or products.

Following the collapse of FTX in November, global regulators have come down hard on the digital asset sector but many countries are actively rolling out regulations for the new asset class.

Laser Digital carried out an independent global survey with institutional investors across 21 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, South Africa, and Latin America.

More than 300 institutional investors with collective assets worth $4.9 trillion including wealth managers, pension funds, hedge funds, investment funds, and insurance asset managers were polled.

Related: Institutions ‘extremely interested’ in crypto ETFs, but buying has cooled: Survey

Nomura established its crypto venture arm Laser Digital in September 2022.

The Japanese banking giant subsidiary is focusing on Asia for the next crypto industry growth spurt. On June 13, Mohideen said regulatory clarity in Japan and Hong Kong would boost retail participation.

“Asia benefitted from what happened in the US and realized the things they need to avoid,” he said.

Magazine: Korean crypto contagion, Bank of China on Ethereum, HK’s exchange red carpet: Asia Express

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Japanese Banking Heavyweight Nomura to Launch Crypto-Focused Venture Capital Arm

Japanese Banking Heavyweight Nomura to Launch Crypto-Focused Venture Capital ArmOn Wednesday, the Japanese financial holding company and principal member of the Nomura Group, Nomura Holdings, announced the launch of a crypto-focused venture capital unit called Laser Digital Holdings. Nomura’s move follows a number of financial giants entering the cryptocurrency industry this year. Nomura Introduces Laser Digital Holdings The investment banking giant from Japan, Nomura […]

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Japanese wealth manager Nomura to explore crypto and NFTs with new unit

The firm stated in a release that it was establishing a new Digital Company, which would begin operations in April, as part of the restructuring.

In a move that may suggest growing institutional interest in cryptocurrencies and NFTs, Nomura Holdings has announced it is establishing a new digital assets team to look into possible opportunities in the asset class.

The wealth management company said that it was restructuring its Future Innovation Company into a brand new Digital Company, which will begin operations in April. The main objective of the new company will be to increase clients' use of digital assets and provide related services. Nomura Group President and CEO said, Kentaro Okuda said:

"The new Digital Company will lead deeper collaboration among internal and external stakeholders, accelerate our uptake of digital technologies, and enhance our client services.”

The wealth manager, which has about $641 billion in assets under management, stated that it aims to increase digital adoption across all of its operations. The new division will reportedly explore opportunities in cryptocurrencies and NFTs, among other digital assets.

                                                                       Source: stevepb, Pixabay

NFTs are becoming increasingly popular in Japan, despite having some of the most stringent crypto rules. The Japanese financial services conglomerate Nomura Holdings is the latest major player to look at NFTs in the country. Last week, major Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten announced the launch of its own NFT trading platform dubbed Rakuten NFT.

Related: Japan-based messaging app will offer trial run of native token starting in March

Last month, Japan's largest financial conglomerate Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), announced it would terminate its three-year-old blockchain payment project to focus on stablecoins.

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‘Bullish’ Cryptocurrency Exchange to Launch With Backing of Billionaire Investors, Investment Bank Nomura

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