thecryptobasic.com
BPCE, France’s second-largest banking group, has begun rolling out crypto trading inside its mobile banking apps.
With the move, it becomes one of the first major European lenders to offer direct access to digital assets. The service goes live on Monday for selected users of Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne.
The initial phase covers clients of four regional banks, including the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur branch of Caisse d’Épargne and the Île-de-France division of Banque Populaire. About two million customers can now buy and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and USDC directly within the apps.
BPCE chose this limited opening to closely track early service performance, according to a source cited by The Big Whale. This measured strategy reflects the bank’s preference for a refined user experience before expanding the service more broadly.
Following the initial phase, BPCE plans to extend the service to its 25 remaining regional entities by 2026. Once completed, the service will reach its entire retail network of roughly 12 million clients.
Hexarq to Manage Dedicated In-App Crypto Accounts
To support the rollout, each user will interact with a dedicated digital-asset account managed by Hexarq, BPCE’s crypto subsidiary. This structure allows customers to trade without relying on external exchanges or third-party wallets.
The account carries a monthly fee of €2.99 and a 1.5% trading commission. This arrangement ensures that the service remains fully integrated within BPCE’s broader banking framework while providing a clear and accessible entry point into digital assets.
Banks Move to Counter Fast-Growing Fintech Rivals
BPCE’s move is part of a broader shift across Europe, where incumbent banks are facing sustained pressure from fintechs that entered the crypto market much earlier. Revolut, Deblock, Bitstack, and Trade Republic have capitalized on this lead, building large customer bases that now expect seamless access to digital assets.
Consequently, established banks are accelerating their own crypto strategies to keep pace. BBVA now provides in-app trading and custody for Bitcoin and Ethereum. Openbank, under Santander, supports five cryptocurrencies. Raiffeisen Bank in Vienna offers similar services through a partnership with Bitpanda.
Launch Aligns With New French Wealth-Tax Proposal
The initiative arrives as French lawmakers advance a plan to classify cryptocurrencies as “unproductive wealth.” The proposal would impose a 1% tax on individuals holding more than $2.3 million in qualifying assets.
The measure, which broadens the existing real estate wealth tax, still requires Senate approval as part of the 2026 budget process. Its progress could influence how digital-asset holders manage and declare their holdings.