Crypto pundit X Finance Bull has highlighted a major development involving XRP after reports emerged that Italy’s largest bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, established an $18 million worth of XRP through the Grayscale XRP Trust.
The pundit argued in a recent tweet that the move reflects growing institutional confidence in XRP despite continued skepticism within parts of the crypto market.
The post emphasized that Intesa Sanpaolo manages approximately $1.1 trillion in assets, making the bank’s reported XRP exposure notable for the digital asset sector.
X Finance Bull stated that while many market participants remained pessimistic about Ripple and XRP during recent market weakness, large financial institutions were quietly positioning themselves for what the commentator described as an upcoming bullish phase for crypto assets.
The tweet also focused heavily on investor sentiment during the current market downturn. According to X Finance Bull, traders should pay attention to the movement of institutional capital rather than short-term market fear.
The commentator argued that trillion-dollar financial institutions would not gain exposure to XRP unless they believed the asset had long-term potential and utility within the evolving financial system.
BOOM! 🚨🚨🚨 ITALY’S LARGEST BANK, WITH AROUND $1.1 TRILLION IN ASSETS, JUST TOOK AN $18M POSITION IN $XRP VIA GRAYSCALE XRP TRUST
While people were bear posting Ripple and XRP, trillion-dollar banks were positioning for the upcoming bull market.
If you’re feeling down because… https://t.co/9K7qo3mWfa pic.twitter.com/wtIcHEvJ0S
— X Finance Bull (@Xfinancebull) May 16, 2026
Intesa Sanpaolo’s Crypto Expansion
The claims shared by X Finance Bull were tied to a report featured in a video from WuBlockchain. According to the report, Intesa Sanpaolo significantly expanded its cryptocurrency-related holdings during the first quarter of 2026.
The bank reportedly increased its crypto exposure from around $100 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 to approximately $235 million by the end of March 2026.
The report stated that the bank increased its Bitcoin holdings and gained exposure to Ethereum for the first time through purchases linked to the BlackRock iShares Staked Ethereum Trust. Alongside those investments, Intesa Sanpaolo reportedly established a new XRP-related position through the Grayscale XRP Trust.
According to the report, the bank held 712,319 shares of the Grayscale XRP Trust with an estimated value of about $18 million as of March 31. The same report says Intesa Sanpaolo reduced its exposure to Solana-related products during the quarter, including a reduction in holdings linked to the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF.
XRP’s Institutional Narrative Continues to Grow
X Finance Bull used the development to reinforce a larger argument that XRP continues to attract institutional attention despite ongoing criticism from some market participants.
In the post, the commentator questioned how many major financial institutions would need to gain exposure to XRP before critics stopped dismissing the asset.
The post reflects a narrative that has become increasingly common among XRP supporters, particularly as banks, asset managers, and investment firms continue exploring regulated crypto investment products.
While the reported exposure does not mean Intesa Sanpaolo directly purchased XRP tokens, the investment through Grayscale’s trust product still represents indirect exposure to the asset’s price performance.
Disclaimer: This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses.
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