The French Banking Giant BPCE Opens Crypto Trading to Its Retail Clients

BPCE, a heavyweight in the French banking sector, launches its crypto trading service this week through its mobile applications. A revolution: buying Bitcoin will become as easy as checking your balance.

A measured but ambitious offensive

BPCE launches this Monday its crypto trading service to clients of four regional pilot banks, including Banque Populaire Île-de-France and Caisse d’Épargne Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. 

Two million French people will be able to buy bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and USDC without leaving their usual banking app.

The service relies on a separate digital asset account, operated by Hexarq, the group’s crypto subsidiary. The displayed rates remain competitive: 2.99 euros per month subscription and a 1.5% commission on each transaction, with a minimum of one euro. A formula designed to democratize access to cryptocurrencies to a still hesitant retail clientele.

This pilot phase will allow BPCE to assess the real appetite of the French for these new assets before a full rollout. By 2026, all of the group’s 12 million retail clients should have access to this service.

The timing appears particularly timely. Across the Atlantic, Coinbase is currently supporting “many of the largest” American banks in their crypto projects. This global dynamic illustrates a profound transformation in the banking sector.

European banking is converting to cryptos

BPCE joins an already well-advanced European movement. The Spanish bank BBVA offers crypto trading directly via its mobile app for several months. 

Openbank, a Santander subsidiary, offers access to five cryptocurrencies with an integrated custody service. In Austria, a Viennese subsidiary of Raiffeisen Bank partnered with Bitpanda to equip its clients.

This convergence reflects a paradigm shift. Traditional banking institutions understand that ignoring digital assets would mean missing the train of financial innovation. The European MiCA regulatory framework, now in effect, finally offers the legal clarity awaited by historical players.

The stakes go beyond simple revenue diversification. Banks seek to retain a young clientele naturally attracted to cryptos.

France benefits from strong assets in this race. The country has a crypto regulatory framework since 2019 with the PSAN status. Large French companies, like BPCE, have the necessary infrastructure to secure these new services. It remains to be seen whether the French will massively adopt this offer.