**UniCredit SpA Launches Investment Product Linked to BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF**
Italian bank UniCredit SpA has announced the introduction of a structured investment product for its professional clients, linked to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT). This innovative offering, which provides full capital protection against losses, is set to launch on July 1 and will be available until July 28.
The investment product will take the form of a five-year, dollar-denominated investment certificate that guarantees 100% capital protection at maturity. According to an internal memo confirmed by the bank, the maximum return for investors can reach up to 85% of the ETF’s performance, with a minimum investment threshold of $25,000.
This move by UniCredit reflects the increasing institutional interest in regulated Bitcoin investments. Since its launch in the U.S. in January 2024, BlackRock’s IBIT has experienced significant growth, currently managing assets worth $75 billion. Chicco di Stasi, Head of Group Investment Product Solutions and Equity & Credit Sales and Trading at UniCredit, noted, “We are seeing increasing interest from professional investors in instruments tied to emerging asset classes such as cryptocurrencies. With this product, we offer our professional clients a distinctive solution — the first of its kind in Italy.”
In a related development, BlackRock expanded its presence in the cryptocurrency market by launching a Bitcoin exchange-traded product in Europe on March 25, 2025. The iShares Bitcoin ETP began trading on Xetra and Euronext Paris under the ticker IB1T, and on Euronext Amsterdam under BTCN. This product was introduced with a temporary fee waiver of 10 basis points, reducing its expense ratio to 0.15% until the end of the year.
Manuela Sperandeo, Head of Europe & Middle East iShares Product at BlackRock, commented on the evolving landscape, stating, “It reflects what really could be seen as a tipping point in the industry — the combination of established demand from retail investors with more professionals now really getting into the fold.”
As institutional interest in Bitcoin continues to rise, UniCredit’s new investment product represents a significant step in providing professional clients with access to cryptocurrency investments in a regulated environment.
**FAQ**
*What is UniCredit’s new investment product linked to?*
UniCredit’s new investment product is a structured investment certificate linked to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), offering full capital protection and potential returns based on the ETF’s performance.