Bank of Montreal Confirms XRP Holdings Through SEC Filing
Canada's second-largest bank officially discloses positions in XRP-focused investment vehicles, reflecting growing institutional adoption through regulated channels.
Major Canadian Bank Enters Regulated Crypto Market
Bank of Montreal, Canada’s second-largest banking institution, has formally disclosed positions in XRP-focused investment vehicles through its latest quarterly filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The revelation marks an official confirmation that major institutional capital from Canada’s banking sector is now actively participating in the digital asset market through regulated investment channels.
The disclosure appears in BMO’s Form 13F-HR filing submitted to the SEC, with holdings reported as of June 2026. The institution maintains a combined position of 323 shares in the Rex Osprey XRP ETF and 20 shares in the ProShares Ultra XRP ETF. These holdings represent a portion of BMO’s massive investment portfolio, which exceeded $303 billion in total value at the reporting period’s conclusion.
Notably, BMO’s approach reflects a deliberate institutional strategy. Rather than acquiring XRP tokens directly on cryptocurrency exchanges—a path that would introduce operational and custody complexities—the bank leveraged regulated U.S.-based exchange-traded fund products. This approach enables BMO to integrate exposure to the volatile digital asset within familiar legal frameworks while maintaining separation from direct cryptocurrency custody responsibilities.
Canadian Banking Sector Embraces Crypto Through Regulated Vehicles
The pattern is not isolated to Bank of Montreal. During the same quarterly period, National Bank of Canada disclosed its own cryptocurrency holdings, maintaining 3,848 shares of the Bitwise XRP ETF worth approximately $330,000. The parallel moves suggest institutional adoption has evolved into a coordinated strategy within Canada’s banking sector.
Conservative capital appears to have developed a standardized playbook: enter the cryptocurrency market selectively and deliberately, utilizing transparent, regulated investment products rather than direct digital asset acquisition. This approach balances institutional risk management concerns with exposure to cryptocurrency upside potential.
A Changing Guard Among XRP Holders
The expansion of banking-sector participation masks significant portfolio realignment among cryptocurrency investors. Earlier reports tracking major XRP holders revealed a substantial shift in ownership structures. Major first-wave investors, including major financial firms that had accumulated positions exceeding $150 million around the turn of 2025–2026, substantially reduced or completely liquidated their holdings during the first half of 2026, effectively locking in accumulated gains.
In their stead, a new cohort of institutional investors has assumed XRP exposure. Asset management firms including Arax Advisory Partners, Gerber, Vista Finance, and Gallacher Capital are building diversified cryptocurrency allocations. These newer participants split their capital across multiple strategies—pairing longer-term allocations through traditional spot-based funds such as the Franklin XRP Trust and Bitwise with shorter-duration, leveraged positions via instruments like the ProShares Ultra XRP ETF.
Because SEC Form 13F-HR filings are published with a mandatory 45-day reporting delay, they provide only a lagged snapshot of current institutional positions. Nonetheless, BMO’s disclosure constitutes official confirmation that XRP now appears on another major global banking institution’s balance sheet. The move underscores how institutional capital is steadily normalizing cryptocurrency exposure through regulated investment infrastructure.
Source: Bank of Montreal, via U.Today. Not financial advice.