XRP is back in the spotlight exposure reports from the largest Italian banking group. disclosure, highlighted cryptocurrency analyst @Xfinancebull on
The $18 million item is making waves
Italian banking firm Intesa Sanpaolo, a financial institution with approximately $1.1 trillion in assets under management, has significantly increased its exposure to cryptocurrencies between the end of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, according to recent reports.
Verified data show That institution’s shares in cryptocurrencies grew from approximately $100 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 to nearly $235 million by the end of March 2026. Included in this expansion was a newly created cryptocurrency-related position through the Grayscale XRP Trust.
As of March 31, the bank owned 712,319 shares of Grayscale XRP Trust worth approximately $18 million. This makes it one of the most significant institutional allocations revealed this year by a major European bank.
Exposure was not obtained through direct purchase of tokens on exchanges. Instead, the bank gained access through Grayscale investment trust productwhich allows institutions to participate in XRP-related investments through regulated financial instruments. This distinction matters because many customary financial institutions still prefer regulated exposure routes rather than directly holding crypto assets on-chain.
The move immediately attracted attention throughout the community, especially since it came at a time when parts of the market remained uncertain about the near-term price direction. @Xfinancebull described this development as evidence on such a huge scale institutions continue to position themselves despite continued volatility in the broader cryptocurrency market.
XRP is part of a larger crypto strategy
The XRP allocation was just one part of a much larger cryptocurrency expansion strategy unveiled this quarter. In addition to the recent XRP position, Intesa Sanpaolo also increased its exposure to Bitcoin and added Ethereum-related investments for the first time.
The bank reportedly gained exposure to Ethereum through purchases related to the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust. At the same time, his Bitcoin holdings also increased significantly several products related to ETF fundsincluding ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF and iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF.
Interestingly, during exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP increasedthe institution sharply circumscribed its position related to Solana. Shares linked to the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF have reportedly dropped from over 266,000 shares at the end of 2025 to just 2,817 shares by March 2026. Rather than taking diminutive experimental positions, the bank appears to be actively restructuring its cryptocurrency exposure across many major digital assets.
For XRP supporters, the $18 million lot is unique because it represents the participation of one of the largest financial institutions in Europe. While the investment remains relatively diminutive compared to the bank’s overall asset base, the move continues to provide growing evidence that customary financial players are increasingly willing to profit exposure to XRP-related products as the digital assets sector continues to evolve.
Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com
