{"id":191732,"date":"2026-05-16T20:30:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T17:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cryptodnes.bg\/en\/intesa-sanpaolo-crypto-portfolio-growth-bitcoin-ethereum-xrp\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T20:30:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T17:30:40","slug":"intesa-sanpaolo-crypto-portfolio-growth-bitcoin-ethereum-xrp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cryptodnes.bg\/en\/intesa-sanpaolo-crypto-portfolio-growth-bitcoin-ethereum-xrp\/","title":{"rendered":"Intesa Sanpaolo Doubles Crypto Exposure to $235 Million"},"content":{"rendered":"
Recent data reveals that the crypto portfolio of the Italian banking giant Intesa Sanpaolo has surged from approximately $100 million at the end of 2025 to roughly $235 million as of March 31, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This move is seen as a significant indicator of shifting attitudes toward the crypto sector among European banks following years of caution and regulatory pressure. Rather than holding tokens directly, Intesa Sanpaolo is building its presence through regulated ETFs and trust structures that provide institutional-grade market access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most notable development in the bank\u2019s strategy is its first major foray into Ethereum. Intesa has acquired over 3.1 million shares of the BlackRock iShares Staked ETH Trust\u2014a product that offers exposure to the leading altcoin while enabling participation in the network\u2019s staking activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This suggests the bank views Ethereum as more than just a speculative asset; it sees it as a productive infrastructure capable of generating consistent returns through the native staking mechanism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In tandem, Intesa has established a new position in XRP via the Grayscale XRP Trust. The bank holds over 712,000 shares of the fund, with an initial position of approximately $18 million now valued at roughly $26 million following XRP\u2019s price appreciation in recent weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite diversifying into ETH and XRP, Bitcoin continues to serve as the backbone of Intesa Sanpaolo\u2019s crypto exposure. The bank has significantly increased its holdings in Spot Bitcoin ETF products, including BlackRock\u2019s IBIT and the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the first time, Intesa has also added BTC call options to its portfolio. This addition points to a more sophisticated trading strategy that incorporates both hedging and direct bets on future price increases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Bitcoin and Ethereum are gaining weight in the portfolio, Solana appears to be losing its place in the bank\u2019s strategy. Intesa has nearly liquidated its exposure to the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF, slashing its position from over 266,000 shares to just 2,817.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This capital reallocation suggests that institutional investors are beginning to favor more liquid and regulatorily established crypto assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum over higher-risk altcoin positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Intesa Sanpaolo has clarified that its crypto exposure is not related to retail investor offerings. These positions are held entirely for the purpose of direct market profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n