Intesa Sanpaolo Shifts Millions from Bitcoin to Ethereum ETFs

Italian banking leader Intesa Sanpaolo made a major adjustment to its crypto holdings during the second quarter of 2026. According to recent regulatory filings, the firm cut its stake in spot Bitcoin ETFs by 94 percent. This massive selloff shows a clear change in strategy for the bank as it rebalances its digital asset portfolio.

At the same time, the bank tripled its investment in BlackRock's iShares Staked Ethereum Trust. By moving capital from Bitcoin into an Ethereum product that generates yield through staking, the bank is signaling a preference for assets that offer passive income potential over pure price appreciation.

This shift by a major institutional player highlights how traditional banks are fine tuning their crypto exposure. Traders should watch to see if other financial institutions follow this trend of prioritizing yield bearing Ethereum products over Bitcoin as the market matures.

Keep an eye on future 13F filings to see if this pivot toward Ethereum continues or if the bank decides to rotate capital back into Bitcoin later this year.