XRP is back in focus after this reports of exposure of Italy’s largest banking group. The revelation, marked by crypto analyst @Xfinancebull on
The $18 million position is making waves
According to recent reports, Italian banking heavyweight Intesa Sanpaolo, a financial institution that manages approximately $1.1 trillion in assets, significantly expanded its exposure to cryptocurrency between the end of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.
Verified figures show that the crypto-related assets of the institution rose from approximately $100 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 to nearly $235 million at the end of March 2026. Within that expansion was a newly established position tied to the cryptocurrency through the Grayscale XRP Trust.
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As of March 31, the bank owned 712,319 shares of the Grayscale XRP Trust, a position worth approximately $18 million. This makes it one of the most notable institutional allocations announced this year by a major European bank.
The exposure was not obtained through direct purchases of tokens on exchanges. Instead, the bank gained access via Grayscale’s investment trust productallowing institutions to participate in XRP-related investments through regulated financial instruments. That distinction is important because many traditional financial institutions still prefer regulated exposure routes rather than directly holding crypto assets on-chain.
This move immediately attracted community-wide attention, especially since it came during a period when parts of the market remained uncertain about near-term price direction. @Xfinancebull called the development a testament to how big it was institutions continue to position themselves despite continued volatility in the broader crypto market.
XRP is part of a larger crypto strategy
The XRP allocation was just one part of a much larger crypto expansion strategy unveiled during the quarter. In addition to the new XRP position, Intesa Sanpaolo has also increased its exposure to Bitcoin and added Ethereum-related investments for the first time.
The bank has reportedly gained exposure to Ethereum through purchases linked to the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust. At the same time, Bitcoin ownership also grew significantly various ETF-related productsincluding ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF and iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF.
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Interestingly enough, while Exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP increasedthe institution has significantly reduced its position in relation to Solana. The holdings associated with the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF have reportedly fallen from over 266,000 shares at the end of 2025 to just 2,817 shares in March 2026. Instead of taking small experimental positions, the bank appears to be actively restructuring its crypto exposure across multiple major digital assets.
For XRP proponents, the $18 million position stands out because it represents the participation of one of Europe’s largest financial institutions. While the investment remains relatively small compared to the bank’s overall asset base, this move still adds to growing evidence that traditional financial players are increasingly willing to turn a profit. exposure to XRP-related products as the digital asset industry continues to evolve.
Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com