Italy’s second-largest bank, UniCredit SpA, has launched a five-year capital-protected investment certificate linked to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT). Targeted exclusively at professional clients with a minimum $25,000 investment, the product guarantees 100% capital protection at maturity but caps returns at 85% of the ETF’s performance.
This move signals growing European bank interest in cryptocurrencies as they cautiously enter the digital asset space amid improved regulatory clarity, such as the EU’s MiCA framework. UniCredit’s initiative follows similar steps by Italy’s largest bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, and Spain’s Banco Santander, both expanding crypto-related offerings.
Since its U.S. approval in January 2024, BlackRock’s IBIT ETF has amassed over $75 billion in assets, helping mainstream Bitcoin investments. Bitcoin itself has gained around 14% in 2025, outperforming many smaller tokens.
UniCredit’s product offers a safer entry into crypto investing for cautious investors, potentially encouraging broader adoption of digital asset products by European banks.
