- Itaú Asset Management recommends allocating 1% to 3% of investment portfolios to Bitcoin in 2026.
- Bitcoin is considered a distinct asset with diversification and currency hedging benefits amid global uncertainties.
- Brazilian investors have experienced Bitcoin volatility intensified by a 15% strengthening of the local currency against the dollar.
- Itaú Asset launched a dedicated crypto division to expand digital asset offerings, including ETFs, retirement funds, and new products.
Itaú Asset Management, the investment division of Brazil’s largest private bank, Itaú Unibanco, has advised investors to allocate between 1% and 3% of their portfolios to Bitcoin in 2026. The recommendation was outlined in a new research note by Renato Eid, citing geopolitical tensions, evolving monetary policies, and ongoing currency risks as reasons to include Bitcoin (BTC) as a complementary asset.
Bitcoin is described as a distinct asset from fixed income, traditional stocks, or domestic markets, with unique return potential and a currency hedging function attributed to its global and decentralized nature. Despite Bitcoin’s volatile price movements this year—starting near $19,000, fluctuating amid tariff issues, reaching an all-time high near $25,000, and later stabilizing around $19,000—it is seen as beneficial for portfolio diversification.
Brazilian investors have especially felt Bitcoin’s volatility sharply due to a roughly 15% appreciation of the Brazilian real this year, which compounded local investment losses when measured in domestic currency. However, Itaú Asset highlights low correlation between BITI11, its locally listed Bitcoin ETF, and major asset classes as evidence supporting a small, steady Bitcoin allocation to improve portfolio balance and risk management, as detailed in their correlation analysis.
In September, Itaú Asset established a standalone cryptocurrency division, appointing former Hashdex executive João Marco Braga da Cunha as leader. This unit builds on the bank’s existing offerings including the Bitcoin ETF and a crypto-exposed retirement fund. Plans are also underway to create additional products that range from fixed income–style instruments to higher-volatility strategies such as derivatives and staking.
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