[Nomura Securities: Nearly 80% of Institutions Plan to Invest in Cryptocurrency, DeFi Becomes the Focus] BlockBeats News, April 16 – Financial giant Nomura Securities released the '2026 Digital Asset Institutional Investor Survey,' which shows that nearly 80% of institutional investors plan to allocate 2%-5% of their total assets under management to the cryptocurrency sector. Additionally, 65% of surveyed institutions view cryptocurrencies as a diversification tool alongside stocks, bonds, and commodities. The survey covered institutional investors and family offices managing over $60 billion in assets. In terms of investment direction, more than two-thirds of respondents aim to generate returns through DeFi mechanisms such as staking, 65% are focused on lending and tokenized assets, and 63% are exploring derivatives and stablecoins. Furthermore, 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 stated that regulatory clarity, increased awareness, and the improvement of risk control frameworks are key to expanding investments. Although challenges such as the lack of clear asset valuation methods and regulatory uncertainty still exist, the development of diversified investment products and advancements in risk management practices are accelerating institutional adoption.