{"id":37667,"date":"2026-08-03T20:11:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T20:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/37667\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T20:11:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T20:11:15","slug":"italys-biggest-bank-just-slashed-its-bitcoin-etf-call-position-by-99-to-triple-down-on-staked-ethereum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/37667\/","title":{"rendered":"Italy&#8217;s biggest bank just slashed its Bitcoin ETF call position by 99% to triple down on staked Ethereum"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy\u2019s largest banking group, cut the underlying-share amount of its reported iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF call position by 99.3% in the second quarter, while a 500,000-share-equivalent held put row appeared and its staked Ethereum ETF balance roughly tripled.<\/p>\n<p>The changes mark a reset in the Italian bank\u2019s disclosed quarter-end crypto ETF positions. They do not, by themselves, show that Intesa adopted a net bearish Bitcoin strategy.<\/p>\n<p>The bank\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/Archives\/edgar\/data\/1374384\/000137438426000007\/0001374384-26-000007-index.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">July 31 Form 13F<\/a> captures positions held on June 30. Its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/Archives\/edgar\/data\/1374384\/000137438426000005\/0001374384-26-000005-index.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">May 15 filing<\/a> provides the March 31 comparison point, making the figures quarter-end snapshots rather than a record of trades made on the filing dates.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/Archives\/edgar\/data\/1374384\/000137438426000005\/isp_2026q1informationtable.xml\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">two holdings tables<\/a> show Intesa\u2019s common IBIT position falling from 646,809 shares to 40,723, a 93.7% reduction. The underlying-share amount in its held-call row dropped from 2,496,500 to 18,000, or 99.3%, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/Archives\/edgar\/data\/1374384\/000137438426000007\/isp_2026q2informationtable.xml\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">June 30 disclosure<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/this-is-what-wall-street-crypto-looks-like-ibit-options-went-vertical-as-bitcoin-hit-60k-intraday\/\" class=\"cs-article-embed__link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ibit-options-wallst--1024x538.jpg\" alt=\"This is what \u201cWall Street crypto\u201d looks like: IBIT options went vertical as Bitcoin hit $60k intraday\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><img class=\"lazyload\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ibit-options-wallst--1024x538.jpg\" alt=\"This is what \u201cWall Street crypto\u201d looks like: IBIT options went vertical as Bitcoin hit $60k intraday\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/> Related ReadingThis is what \u201cWall Street crypto\u201d looks like: IBIT options went vertical as Bitcoin hit $60k intraday<\/p>\n<p>Bitcoin faces another violent swing if IBIT options stay this hot after the sell off.<\/p>\n<p> Feb 14, 2026 \u00b7 Andjela Radmilac<\/p>\n<p> <\/a><\/p>\n<p>That later table also included a held IBIT put row representing 500,000 underlying shares, while no IBIT put row appeared in the March table.<\/p>\n<p>Those option rows are incomplete measures of economic risk. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/files\/form13f.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Form 13F instructions<\/a> express held options in terms of the underlying security and do not provide strike, expiration, premium, delta, or counterparty details.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/rules-regulations\/staff-guidance\/division-investment-management-frequently-asked-questions\/frequently-asked-questions-about-form-13f\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">SEC guidance<\/a> also says written or short options are not reported or subtracted from long positions. The filing therefore cannot establish Intesa\u2019s net Bitcoin-options exposure or determine whether the put was a hedge, a directional position or part of another strategy.<\/p>\n<p>The shift in reported balances extended to Ethereum and Solana. Intesa\u2019s iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF position rose from 116,200 shares to 349,600, slightly more than tripling, while its Bitwise Solana Staking ETF position fell from 2,817 shares to seven.<\/p>\n<p> CryptoSlate Daily BriefDaily signals, zero noise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"cs-inline-newsletter__copy\">Market-moving headlines and context delivered every morning in one tight read.<\/p>\n<p>  5-minute digest  100k+ readers<\/p>\n<p class=\"cs-inline-newsletter__privacy\">Free. No spam. Unsubscribe any time.<\/p>\n<p>  Whoops, looks like there was a problem. Please try again.<\/p>\n<p>  You\u2019re subscribed. Welcome aboard.<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/blackrock-may-have-just-made-ethereum-income-impossible-to-ignore\/\" class=\"cs-article-embed__link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/blackrock-ethereum-staking-1024x538.jpg\" alt=\"BlackRock's new product just made Ethereum income impossible to ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><img class=\"lazyload\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/blackrock-ethereum-staking-1024x538.jpg\" alt=\"BlackRock's new product just made Ethereum income impossible to ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/> Related ReadingBlackRock&#8217;s new product just made Ethereum income impossible to ignore<\/p>\n<p>BlackRock may have just reopened the case for earning yield in crypto, reframing ETH as yield plus price exposure.<\/p>\n<p> Mar 13, 2026 \u00b7 Gino Matos<\/p>\n<p> <\/a><\/p>\n<p>XRP was the exception. Intesa reported 712,319 shares of the Grayscale XRP Trust ETF at both quarter ends. That shows no net increase in the disclosed balance and means the full Q2 position cannot be confirmed as a new purchase, although offsetting trades within the quarter remain possible.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/exec-8c64102a-64e3-45eb-a71e-07fea32dc55c.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-551854\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/exec-8c64102a-64e3-45eb-a71e-07fea32dc55c.png\" alt=\"Infographic comparing Intesa Sanpaolo's reported March 31 and June 30, 2026 crypto ETF share counts, including IBIT common shares and held-option underlying-share amounts, staked Ethereum, XRP and Solana.\" width=\"720\" height=\"900\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter wp-image-551854\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/exec-8c64102a-64e3-45eb-a71e-07fea32dc55c.png\" alt=\"Infographic comparing Intesa Sanpaolo's reported March 31 and June 30, 2026 crypto ETF share counts, including IBIT common shares and held-option underlying-share amounts, staked Ethereum, XRP and Solana.\" width=\"720\" height=\"900\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/sec-filing-shows-viral-71-million-xrp-etf-claims-are-out-by-1000x\/\" class=\"cs-article-embed__link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rp-etf-inflated-filing-claim-reflection-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"SEC filing shows viral $71 million XRP ETF claims are out by 1,000x\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><img class=\"lazyload\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/rp-etf-inflated-filing-claim-reflection-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"SEC filing shows viral $71 million XRP ETF claims are out by 1,000x\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/> Related ReadingSEC filing shows viral $71 million XRP ETF claims are out by 1,000x<\/p>\n<p>A CryptoSlate analysis of SEC filings found the adviser reported 12,380 XRPI shares worth $71,059 and had disclosed the holding a quarter earlier.<\/p>\n<p> Jul 16, 2026 \u00b7 Liam &#8216;Akiba&#8217; Wright<\/p>\n<p> <\/a><\/p>\n<p>Overall, the filings show a much smaller common IBIT and held-call footprint alongside a newly disclosed put row, a larger staked Ethereum position, unchanged quarter-end XRP shares, and almost no remaining Solana ETF balance.<\/p>\n<p>The holdings changed markedly, though Intesa\u2019s complete net Bitcoin-options position and motive remain undisclosed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy\u2019s largest banking group, cut the underlying-share amount of its reported iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF call&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":37668,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[9359,9360,761,5,9361,12604],"class_list":["post-37667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-italy","tag-bitcoin","tag-ethereum","tag-intesa-sanpaolo","tag-italy","tag-solana","tag-xrp"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37667"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37667\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}