French Banking Giant BPCE Set to Disrupt Crypto Market with Secret New In-App Trading Feature
Isn’t it wild to think that cryptos like Bitcoin and Ether might soon be just another tap away inside your everyday banking app? Well, the French banking titan BPCE is gearing up to do just that, rolling out a feature that lets millions buy and sell BTC, ETH, SOL, and USDC right from their Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne apps. It’s a game-changer for traditional European banks dipping toes into digital assets—and it gets you wondering: as these giants embrace crypto, how soon before your bank starts acting more like a crypto exchange? This savvy move, starting with 2 million users and scaling to a whopping 12 million by 2026, signals a shift where crypto isn’t just some fringe investment—it’s stitched basically into your financial day-to-day. Plus, with a small fee and zero need for third-party wallets, trading crypto might soon feel as casual as checking your balance. Curious how this will ripple through Europe’s financial scene and change the crypto game? LEARN MORE.
BPCE will let millions of customers buy and sell BTC, ETH, SOL and USDC directly inside its banking apps.
News
French banking heavyweight BPCE is preparing to introduce crypto trading to millions of its retail customers, making it one of the first major traditional European banks to offer digital assets.
According to a report from The Big Whale, the group will allow users to buy and sell Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Solana (SOL) and USDC (USDC) directly inside its Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne mobile apps starting Monday.
The initial rollout will cover clients of four regional banks, including Banque Populaire Île-de-France and Caisse d’Épargne Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, reaching roughly 2 million customers. BPCE plans to extend the service gradually across its remaining 25 regional entities through 2026, ultimately making crypto trading available to its full 12-million-strong retail base.
A bank insider reportedly told The Big Whale that the phased approach is intended to “monitor how the service performs at launch” before scaling.
Related: EU plan would boost ESMA powers over crypto and capital markets
BPCE rolls out paid in-app crypto accounts
Crypto purchases and sales will be handled through a dedicated digital asset account within the banking apps, managed by Hexarq, BPCE’s crypto subsidiary, per the report. The account carries a 2.99 euros ($3.48) monthly fee and a 1.5% commission per trade, with a minimum of $1.16. Users will be able to access the service without needing external exchanges or third-party wallets.
BPCE’s move comes as competition intensifies across Europe between traditional banks and crypto-friendly fintechs such as Revolut, Deblock, Bitstack and Trade Republic, all of which are offering access to digital assets.
Several European institutions have also taken similar steps. BBVA allows Spanish customers to buy, sell and hold Bitcoin and Ether directly within its app, backed by in-house custody. Santander’s digital arm Openbank offers trading and custody for five cryptocurrencies, while Raiffeisen Bank’s Vienna-based unit partnered with Bitpanda to bring crypto services to its retail clients.
Cointelegraph reached out to BPCE for comment, but had not received a response by publication.
Related: Telegram CEO Pavel Durov free to leave France as travel ban lifted: Report
France to tax crypto as “unproductive wealth”
Last month, French lawmakers narrowly approved an amendment that would extend the country’s wealth tax to cover “unproductive assets,” including certain real estate, luxury items, and digital assets such as crypto.
Under the amendment, individuals holding more than $2.3 million in qualifying “unproductive wealth” would face a new flat 1% tax, a shift from today’s progressive real estate wealth tax. The expanded taxable base includes digital assets. The proposal must still pass the Senate as part of the 2026 budget process before becoming law.
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