The French banking group BPCE is introducing cryptocurrency trading directly inside its mobile banking applications. Through this new feature, customers of Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne will be able to buy and sell major digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and USDC without needing to use external exchanges or third-party platforms.
The launch begins with four regional banks, including those serving Île-de-France and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, giving around two million customers early access. BPCE plans to expand crypto trading to all 29 of its regional networks by 2026, potentially reaching its full retail customer base of roughly twelve million people.
To use the service, customers will open a dedicated digital-asset account operated by Hexarq, BPCE’s licensed crypto subsidiary. This account carries a monthly fee of €2.99, while each trade is subject to a 1.5% commission, with a small minimum charge. The system is designed to let users manage crypto assets entirely within their existing banking environment.
This development represents a significant step toward mainstream crypto adoption in Europe. By integrating digital-asset trading into traditional banking apps, BPCE joins the growing number of established financial institutions incorporating crypto services into their offerings. The rollout also comes at a time when France is considering new legislation that may extend wealth taxes to include certain categories of digital assets.
Source: Cointelegraph Edited by Sonarx