Intesa Sanpaolo more than doubled its crypto exposure during the first quarter of 2026, according to a report citing data from Criptovaluta.it.
The Italian banking giant increased its crypto-linked holdings from around $100 million at the end of 2025 to nearly $235 million by March 31, showing growing interest in digital assets despite continued market volatility.
Most of the increase came from bigger positions in Bitcoin-related exchange-traded funds. The bank reportedly expanded its holdings in the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF and BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust.
At the same time, the bank also moved beyond Bitcoin by adding exposure to Ethereum and XRP for the first time.
According to the report, Intesa gained Ethereum exposure through the BlackRock iShares Staked Ethereum Trust.
The bank also added an XRP position through the Grayscale XRP Trust, with the holding reportedly valued at around $26 million.
However, Intesa sharply reduced its exposure to Solana during the same quarter.
Its position in the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF reportedly dropped from more than 266,000 shares to just 2,817 shares, signaling an almost complete exit from the product.
The changes suggest the bank is taking a more selective approach to crypto investments by increasing exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP while cutting back heavily on Solana-linked holdings.
The latest filing builds on Intesa’s earlier moves into crypto markets. In January 2025, the bank confirmed its first direct Bitcoin purchase after buying 11 BTC worth around €1 million as part of what CEO Carlo Messina described as a “test.”
Intesa has also been involved in digital asset custody services through work with Ripple Custody, formerly known as Metaco.
The report comes as more European banks continue expanding into crypto services, digital asset custody, and stablecoin infrastructure ahead of Europe’s broader MiCA regulatory rollout.
