Intesa Sanpaolo, the country’s biggest banking group, has significantly expanded its presence in digital assets, more than doubling its crypto exposure in early 2026. The bank increased its allocation to Bitcoin ETFs and expanded into Ethereum and $XRP XRP for the first time, marking a broader shift toward institutional crypto adoption across Europe.

Intesa Sanpaolo deepens crypto exposure, crossing $235M in digital assets

Italy’s largest bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, has more than doubled its crypto exposure in Q1 2026, rising from around $100M to $235M. The expansion includes stronger Bitcoin ETF positions such as BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust and ARK 21Shares $BTC ETF.

For the first time, the bank also entered Ethereum via BlackRock’s iShares Staked Ethereum Trust and added exposure to XRP through Grayscale’s XRP Trust. At the same time, it opened its first crypto derivatives position with Bitcoin ETF call options.

While increasing exposure to BTC and ETH, the bank sharply reduced its Solana ETF holdings, nearly exiting the position entirely. It also expanded its institutional crypto footprint by adding BitGo shares and significantly increasing its Coinbase stake.

The move reflects a broader trend across Europe, where major banks are rapidly integrating digital assets, ETFs, and even stablecoin infrastructure into traditional finance.