Brazil’s Largest Private Bank Suggests 1–3% Investment in Bitcoin

Highlights:

• Itaú suggests keeping 1%–3% of portfolios in Bitcoin for better diversification.
• The bank said Bitcoin can help shield investments from currency drops and market swings.
• Itaú advises using Bitcoin alongside traditional assets, not as a replacement.

Brazil’s largest private bank, Itaú, has a cautious but positive view on Bitcoin despite recent price drops. The bank suggests investors keep 1% to 3% of their portfolios in Bitcoin through 2026. It emphasizes that temporary declines do not remove Bitcoin’s long-term role in diversification and protection against uncertainty. Currently, Bitcoin trades around $90,343, down about 2.8% in the last 24 hours.

Itaú, Brazil's largest private bank, released a research report recommending that investors allocate 1%–3% of their portfolio to Bitcoin in 2026 as a means of diversifying risk and hedging against currency fluctuations. https://t.co/eEXXZ0aqkX

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) December 13, 2025

Itaú Highlights Bitcoin’s Role in Diversified Portfolios and Currency Protection

Head of Beta Strategies & ESG Integration at Itaú Asset Management, Renato Eid, states that the behavior of Bitcoin is different from that of common stocks, bonds, or local instruments. Being a worldwide, decentralized asset, it is prone to economic downturns and geopolitical factors that affect common instruments in a different manner. Despite going through fluctuations, it helps diversify your investment portfolios.

The bank also pointed out how Bitcoin helps during currency changes. In 2025, investors lost more when the Brazilian real got stronger. In late last year, when the US dollar went up, Bitcoin helped reduce losses. This shows it can protect against currency ups and downs.

Renato Eid stated: 

“Maintaining a well-diversified portfolio and adopting a calibrated allocation to assets such as Bitcoin appears to be a robust strategy. The objective is not to make crypto assets the core of a portfolio, but rather to integrate them as a complementary component.” 

Itaú tells investors to stay patient and not focus on short-term price changes. Clients can buy Bitcoin through the Íon platform or the BITI11 ETF on Brazil’s B3 exchange. This makes keeping crypto safe easier. The bank says Bitcoin should support a portfolio, not take over it. “By allocating around 1% to 3% in their investment portfolio, investors will in fact be taking advantage of an asset that generates diversification,” the bank wrote.

In September, Itaú Asset started a new crypto division. João Marco Braga da Cunha, formerly from Hashdex, was made the leader. The division added more crypto services, including a Bitcoin ETF and a retirement fund with crypto exposure.

Itaú Expands Crypto Services with Focus on Safety

Itaú is widening its digital asset services by allowing clients to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum. Guto Antunes, head of digital assets, confirmed the bank will handle custody directly, using support from Itaú’s balance sheet. Currently, clients cannot transfer crypto to external wallets, keeping the focus on security and easy access.

Other major banks around the world share similar approaches. Morgan Stanley’s Global Investment Committee recommends a 2% to 4% crypto allocation for qualified clients, describing Bitcoin as digital gold. Bank of America also suggests a 1% to 4% allocation through regulated investment products. These institutions generally agree that, although Bitcoin carries risk, it is increasingly seen as a legitimate asset.

Bank of America is now recommending a 1%–4% crypto allocation for clients of Merrill, the Private Bank, and Merrill Edge, and will begin CIO coverage of four bitcoin ETFs — BITB, FBTC, Grayscale’s Mini Trust, and IBIT — starting Jan. 5, 2026. This marks a shift from its previous…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) December 2, 2025