📊 Brazil’s Largest Bank Recommends Bitcoin as a Portfolio Hedge
Brazil’s largest private bank, Itaú Unibanco, is advising investors to allocate 1%–3% of their portfolios to $BTC, framing it as a diversification tool rather than a speculative bet.
According to Renato Eid, head of beta strategies at Itaú Asset Management, Bitcoin should serve as a complementary asset, not a core holding. The focus is on long-term positioning, not market timing, with $BTC offering returns that are largely uncorrelated with domestic economic cycles.
The recommendation is closely tied to currency risk. After the Brazilian real hit record lows in late 2024, Itaú highlighted Bitcoin’s potential role as a partial hedge against FX volatility, alongside its function as a global store of value.
Itaú’s guidance references BITI11, a Brazil-listed Bitcoin ETF launched in partnership with Galaxy Digital. The fund currently manages over $115 million, providing local investors with regulated BTC exposure and international diversification.
The move reflects a broader institutional shift. Similar allocation ranges have been suggested by global banks, signaling that Bitcoin is increasingly viewed not as an outlier, but as a structured portfolio component in emerging-market risk management.
Question: Is a 1%–3% $BTC allocation becoming the new conservative baseline for institutional portfolios?
