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- Bitcoin earns 1%–3% portfolio allocation backing from Itaú to boost diversification and hedge currency risk.
- Bank says Bitcoin’s low correlation helps balance portfolios despite sharp price volatility.
- Itaú expands crypto strategy with new division and plans for ETFs, derivatives, and staking.
Brazil’s largest private bank has endorsed Bitcoin as a portfolio diversifier amid global uncertainty. Itaú Asset Management said limited exposure can help manage risk and hedge currency pressures. The firm acknowledged volatility but framed Bitcoin as a complementary asset. It advised discipline and small allocations rather than speculative positioning across portfolios.
Itaú Asset Management, the investment arm of Itaú Unibanco, recommended a Bitcoin allocation of 1% to 3% for 2026. The guidance appeared in a recent research note to clients. The bank said the allocation aims to improve diversification without changing portfolio risk profiles materially.
Bitcoin’s Decentralized Design Supports Currency Hedging
Renato Eid, a senior strategist at Itaú Asset, cited geopolitical tension and shifting monetary policy. He also highlighted persistent currency risks across global markets. Eid said Bitcoin behaves differently from stocks and bonds. He described it as an asset with independent dynamics and global liquidity.
Eid added that the decentralized nature of Bitcoin serves a purpose in currency hedging. He mentioned that the asset is not predicated on local markets or a central bank. He said that this separation can help portfolios during times of macroeconomic stress. The bank highlighted the importance of Bitcoin in addition to conventional assets.
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This recommendation comes after a turbulent year of Bitcoin. Prices opened 2025 near $95,000. Bitcoin dropped to around 80,000 in a tariff-induced disruption in the market. The market then increased to a record high of $125,000. Prices then relaxed and stabilized again at around $95,000.
Such moves hit Brazilian investors harder than many global traders. Brazil’s real appreciated by approximately 15% in a year. When Bitcoin fell, the strength of the currency exacerbated local losses. Itaú said that the decline is a reversal that does not negate the case of diversification.
Source: Itaú
Itaú Builds Crypto Division as Bitcoin Becomes Long-Term Strategy
Eid referred to internal analysis that indicated low correlation between major asset classes and BITI11. BITI11 is Itaú’s local ETF of Bitcoin. He noted that a small, consistent allocation can mitigate risks not covered by traditional assets. The bank’s exposure to correlation data was moderate.
Itaú has increased its institutional crypto strategy. In September, it opened an autonomous crypto division. The company has hired former Hashdex executive Joaquin Marco Braga da Cunha as the head of the unit. The division expands on already-existing products, such as a Bitcoin ETF and crypto retirement fund.
The bank intends to expand its digital asset solutions. The bank’s products can include both fixed-income options and more volatile investment strategies. Those may include derivatives and staking. The bank has established Bitcoin as part of its long-term investment strategy.
Also Read: Bitcoin in 401(k) Plans: Congress Wants SEC to Update Rules for Alternative Investments
