Italy’s largest bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, completed its first proprietary bitcoin trade, marking a significant step into the digital asset space.

On January 13, 2025, Intesa Sanpaolo executed its first proprietary bitcoin trade, purchasing 1 million euros ($1.03 million) worth of the world’s largest cryptocurrency. According to an internal memo, the trade has added 11 bitcoin to the bank’s portfolio, showcasing its growing commitment to digital assets.

Digital Asset Trading Desk Launched

In 2023, Intesa established a dedicated proprietary trading desk for cryptocurrencies and digital assets. By 2024, it had expanded into handling spot trades, culminating in this milestone investment.

Bitcoin’s Price Surge in 2024

Bitcoin’s meteoric rise in 2024, fueled by the U.S. regulator’s approval of exchange-traded funds tied to its spot price, has significantly boosted institutional interest. Optimism surrounding easing regulatory hurdles under incoming U.S. President Donald Trump also contributed to this surge.

Currently hovering near the $100,000 mark, Bitcoin has more than doubled in value over the past year. Analysts predict it could potentially double again by the end of 2025.

Institutional Adoption Growing

Monday’s trade, first reported by La Stampa, highlights the increasing adoption of Bitcoin by traditional financial institutions like Intesa Sanpaolo. With its latest move, the bank is positioning itself at the forefront of digital asset trading in Europe.

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Institutional Adoption: The crypto realm experienced its initial wave of institutional adoption between 2020 and 2021, marked by institutions integrating bitcoin into their balance sheets. CryptoQuant’s report suggests that the subsequent wave might be characterized by financial institutions offering their clientele bitcoin access via spot ETFs. Notably, several prominent financial entities have already submitted applications to launch spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S., with potential approvals anticipated by March 2024.

Comparative Analysis: The prospective influx from spot ETFs is predicted to dwarf the investments that previously flowed into the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), the globe’s most substantial cryptocurrency fund, boasting a whopping $16.7 billion in assets under management. CryptoQuant’s analysis indicates that if the current ETF applicants allocate merely 1% of their Assets Under Management (AUM) to these ETFs, the bitcoin market could be enriched by an approximate $155 billion. This influx would equate to nearly one-third of bitcoin’s existing market cap, potentially propelling its price to a range of $50,000 to $73,000.

Historical Perspective: Drawing from past bull markets, bitcoin’s market capitalization has typically expanded 3-5 times its realized capitalization. This pattern implies that for every dollar of new investment in the bitcoin market, the market cap could amplify by $3-$5.

Market Reactions: A recent surge in Bitcoin’s price to $30,000 was triggered by an erroneous report from Cointelegraph, claiming the approval of a spot bitcoin ETF. Despite the inaccuracy, the bullish momentum seems to persist, deterring potential short-sellers. Markus Thielen, Matrixport’s head of research and strategy, commented on the prevailing optimism, emphasizing the reluctance to short BTC in the foreseeable future.

Current Market Status: The crypto market first breached the $1 trillion threshold in January 2021. As of the latest data, the total market cap hovers at $1.13 trillion, with bitcoin dominating over half of this figure.

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