Asset Allocation Strategy Under Global Uncertainty: Itau Recommends 3% Bitcoin in 2026 Portfolio

Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and rapid changes in monetary policy, Brazilian financial institutions are being forced to review their investment strategies. Itaú Unibanco’s investment management division, Itaú Asset Management, has announced new recommendations for optimizing portfolios toward 2026.

The company’s investment strategy team is advising investors to allocate 1-3% of next year’s portfolio to Bitcoin (allocate). This proposal is based on several strategic considerations.

Renato Aide, an analyst at Itaú Asset, points out the risks of relying on a single asset class in the current international financial environment. He states that including Bitcoin (BTC), which has decentralized characteristics, can reduce correlation with existing assets and achieve overall risk-adjusted returns for the portfolio as a hedge against currency fluctuations.

According to his view, Bitcoin has different dynamics compared to fixed income assets, traditional stocks, and domestic market assets. Its globally diversified nature allows it to function not just as a means of pursuing returns but also as a complementary asset with currency hedging capabilities.

Despite the significant price fluctuations last year, Itaú evaluates Bitcoin’s contribution to asset diversification from a medium- to long-term perspective. While accepting volatility, it is gaining attention among institutional investors as a new asset allocation model that improves overall portfolio balance.