Intesa Sanpaolo Boosts Crypto Exposure to Over $200 Million

Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy's biggest bank, has been expanding its exposure to digital assets through regulated financial products. The bank's holdings of Bitcoin-linked investment products have surpassed $200 million as of the first quarter of 2026.

New filings show that Intesa Sanpaolo increased its stake in ARK Invest and 21Shares Bitcoin ETF to approximately $81.17 million, up from $72.6 million in the previous quarter. Its shares in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF also rose to $24.85 million from $23.44 million.

The bank has been diversifying its crypto portfolio by investing in a range of products linked to Grayscale Investments and Bitwise Asset Management, among others. Notably, Intesa Sanpaolo held smaller positions in spot Bitcoin ETFs and trust products totaling around $106.1 million by the end of March.

At the close of the quarter, the bank's total Bitcoin-linked exposure stood at approximately $202 million, including its call-option and ETF positions. This development underscores the increasing acceptance of regulated crypto investment products among traditional banks.