Intesa Sanpaolo Triples Ether ETF Holding, Slashes Bitcoin Exposure
What happened: Italy's largest bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, reduced its exposure to the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) by 94% in Q2 2026, holding just 40,723 shares worth $1.
What happened: Italy's largest bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, reduced its exposure to the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) by 94% in Q2 2026, holding just 40,723 shares worth $1.36 million as of June 30. Simultaneously, it tripled its stake in the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust to 349,600 shares (~$7.10 million). The bank also nearly doubled its BitGo position, while cutting holdings in Coinbase (-32%), Circle (-10%), and Robinhood (-43%).
Why it matters: The sharp rotation from bitcoin to ether ETFs, alongside strategic options hedging, underscores shifting institutional sentiment amid a volatile quarter (BTC -14%, ETH -25%). Intesa's move mirrors broader ETF outflows—$4.89 billion net from US spot bitcoin ETFs in Q2—while highlighting a growing appetite for staking-based products and diversified crypto exposure.
Source: CoinDesk, Cryptonomist