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Italy's biggest bank just slashed its Bitcoin ETF call position by 99% to triple down on staked Ethereum

Italy's biggest bank reduced its Bitcoin ETF call position by 99% and increased its exposure to staked Ethereum, while a 500,000‑share‑equivalent put was recorded in Q2.

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What happened

Italy's biggest bank reduced its Bitcoin ETF call position by 99% and increased its exposure to staked Ethereum, while a 500,000‑share‑equivalent put was recorded in Q2.

Confirmed

Global impact / market context

Cutting the Bitcoin call limits the bank’s upside risk on BTC, while adding staked ETH could boost earnings from Ethereum’s proof‑of‑stake rewards, showing a shift toward assets with yield potential.

Analyst inference

The move reflects broader investor interest in Ethereum’s staking returns as Bitcoin’s price volatility concerns rise, potentially influencing other banks to re‑balance crypto exposure toward income‑generating tokens.

Analyst inference

What to watch

  1. Whether the bank files additional options or futures positions that reveal its net crypto exposure, indicating further strategic adjustments. Proposed
  2. Changes in the price spread between Bitcoin and Ethereum, which could affect the profitability of the bank’s reduced BTC call and increased ETH stake. Analyst inference
  3. Regulatory guidance on crypto ETFs and staking services in Italy, which may impact the bank’s ability to expand similar positions. Proposed

Affected assets

  • ETH — Ethereum
  • XRP — XRP
  • BTC — Bitcoin
  • SOL — Solana

Evidence