UniCredit Launches Game-Changing Capital-Protected Bitcoin Product Tied to BlackRock’s IBIT

UniCredit just flipped the script for conservative crypto-curious investors—wrapping Bitcoin exposure in a capital-protected package linked to BlackRock’s IBIT. No more 'all or nothing' bets on volatility.

Wall Street meets Satoshi

The Italian banking giant isn’t dipping toes—it’s cannonballing into crypto waters. By tethering to BlackRock’s institutional-grade Bitcoin ETF, they’re offering risk-averse clients a backdoor to digital assets without the sleepless nights.

Safety nets for the skeptical

100% principal protection sweetens the deal for institutions still side-eyeing crypto’s wild swings. Because nothing says 'adoption' like hedging your Bitcoin bet with traditional finance’s favorite security blanket.

The fine print giveth and taketh

Early adopters get capped upside—because banks gonna bank—but avoid the gut-wrenching 80% drawdowns of direct BTC ownership. A fair trade? Depends who’s holding the bag when the music stops.

Another brick in the institutional fortress—or just repackaged FOMO for the private banking crowd? Either way, the suits are getting creative about grabbing crypto upside while keeping their risk managers off the ledge.

TLDR

• UniCredit Launches Italy’s First Capital-Protected Bitcoin Certificate Tied to IBIT.
• Bitcoin Exposure, No Risk: UniCredit Offers 5-Year Structured IBIT Investment.
• UniCredit Bridges Traditional Finance and Crypto With Dollar-Denominated IBIT Certificate.
• UniCredit’s IBIT Product Offers 85% Max Gains, Full Capital Safety for Pros.
• European Banks Warm to Bitcoin—UniCredit Leads With Regulated, Risk-Free Access.

UniCredit has introduced a structured certificate linked to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) for professional clients in Italy. The product offers full capital protection at maturity and runs for five years, starting July 1. It marks Italy’s first Bitcoin-backed certificate issued by a major financial institution.

Capital-Protected Bitcoin Exposure

The UniCredit certificate links directly to the performance of IBIT, BlackRock’s spot bitcoin ETF with over $75 billion in assets. This product allows clients to access Bitcoin market gains and protect their principal investment. The maximum return is capped at 85% of IBIT’s performance over five years.

JUST IN: 🇮🇹 Italian banking giant UniCredit to offer European clients access to BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF in a newly structured product – Bloomberg

😘🤌

— Bitcoin Archive (@BTC_Archive) July 1, 2025

The certificate requires a minimum entry of $25,000, reducing local currency risk for international strategies. It provides an opportunity for traditional finance clients to allocate to Bitcoin-linked products without dealing with crypto custody. Access to IBIT through this structure lowers entry barriers in a regulated environment.

UniCredit offers this certificate exclusively between July 1 and July 28 to professional clients registered in Italy. This limited window underlines the bank’s structured approach to product distribution. The firm aims to monitor demand during this period and assess future issuance.

Context Behind UniCredit’s IBIT Certificate

BlackRock launched IBIT in January 2024 as one of the first approved spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US. IBIT has become the dominant product in the space, drawing institutional flows and consistent daily trading volume. European demand for regulated Bitcoin instruments has grown as asset managers seek alternatives to direct crypto buying.

In March 2024, BlackRock expanded its reach by listing a separate Bitcoin exchange-traded product on Euronext Paris and Germany’s Xetra. UniCredit’s product brings a similar offering to Italy but with a capital-guaranteed structure. The protective format is designed to suit regulated finance operations.

UniCredit positions this new certificate as a bridge between digital assets and traditional financial products. Although not available to the retail market, it creates new momentum within the European banking sector.

European Banks Show Rising Activity in Bitcoin Products

Intesa Sanpaolo made its first direct Bitcoin market entry in January 2025, showing a shift in its portfolio direction. The bank currently runs a digital asset trading desk and plans further expansion into crypto-linked services.

Banco Santander is exploring early-stage digital asset services, including a stablecoin and crypto access via its digital bank. Though these efforts target retail clients, the underlying infrastructure supports broader adoption. Across Europe, banks are finding new ways to offer digital exposure without compromising compliance.

UniCredit taps into the most established ETF in the crypto space and sidesteps operational challenges. The MOVE may encourage similar offerings by other European institutions. Structured solutions like UniCredit’s may become the model for banks entering this market.