Intesa Sanpaolo Makes Strategic Move into Bitcoin Market
Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy’s largest bank, has reportedly made its first foray into the Bitcoin market by acquiring €1 million worth of the leading digital asset. This acquisition amounts to approximately 11 BTC, as disclosed in an internal email purportedly signed by Niccolo Bardoscia, the head of the bank’s digital asset trading and investment division. While the bank has yet to officially confirm the purchase, reputable sources such as Reuters have covered the news.
This move comes on the heels of a series of strategic initiatives by Intesa in the digital asset space. Last year, the bank’s crypto division reportedly obtained approval for spot crypto trading, expanding its offerings to include crypto options, futures, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). However, it remains uncertain whether this Bitcoin acquisition signals a broader expansion into the digital assets ecosystem.
Notably, Pierre Rochard, Vice President of Bitcoin Miner Riot Platforms, emphasized the significance of Intesa’s shift towards Bitcoin, underscoring the growing recognition of Bitcoin’s potential among financial institutions. He stated, “All of the banks need to start accumulating BTC to recapitalize their balance sheets.”
Institutional Bitcoin Interest on the Rise
Intesa’s entry into the Bitcoin market reflects a broader trend of increasing adoption of Bitcoin by financial institutions. Data from Bitwise indicates that corporate demand for Bitcoin in 2025 has outpaced the supply of newly mined coins. Companies have collectively purchased 5,774 BTC since the start of the year, while only 5,469 BTC have been mined during the same period.

MicroStrategy, a prominent corporate buyer, has added around 3,600 BTC to its reserves this year. Other companies such as Semler Scientific and Ming Shing Group have also embraced Bitcoin as part of their liquidity and reserve diversification strategies.
Hunter Horsley, CEO of Bitwise, anticipates that the trend of corporations buying Bitcoin will continue to be a major theme in 2025. He stated, “Corporations buying Bitcoin is going to be a major theme of 2025.”
Intesa Sanpaolo’s move signals a significant development in Italy’s traditional finance sector and underscores the bank’s leadership in digital asset adoption. With a market capitalization of €69 billion, Intesa outshines competitors like Santander (€67 billion) and BNP Paribas (€66 billion) in the Eurozone banking landscape.
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