BPCE Lets Millions of French Customers Trade Crypto in Their Banking Apps
What Is BPCE Launching and Who Gets Access First?
BPCE, one of France’s largest banking groups, will begin offering crypto trading to retail customers begining Monday, becoming one of the first major European banks to bring digital assets directly into standard mobile banking apps. According to The large Whale, users of Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne will be able to purchase and trade BTC, Ether, Solana and USDC without needing external platforms.
The initial rollout covers clients of four regional banks — including Banque Populaire Île-de-France and Caisse d’Épargne Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur — reaching about 2 million people. BPCE plans to expand the feature across its remaining 25 regional entities through 2026, eventually making crypto trading available to roughly customers.
A bank insider told The large Whale that the phased rollout allows BPCE to “monitor how the service performs at launch” before opening it to the full network.
Investor Takeaway
How Will Crypto Trading Work Inside BPCE’s Banking Apps?
Crypto transactions will sit inside a dedicated managed by Hexarq, BPCE’s crypto subsidiary. The paid account includes a monthly fee of €2.99 ($3.48) and a 1.5% trading commission, with a minimum charge of $1.16 per trade. Users will not need separate platforms or wallets; custody and execution occur within the identical mobile banking environment they already use.
This setup positions BPCE against fintechs that built ahead traction by bundling banking and crypto services. Revolut, Deblock, Bitstack and Trade Republic already offer in-app trading, pulling in younger users and savers who treat crypto as part of daily finance. BPCE’s entry widens the field and signals that legacy banks are no longer willing to cede the crypto interface to fintech challengers.
Other European banks have made similar pushes. BBVA lets customers in Spain purchase, trade and hold BTC and Ether with internal custody. Santander’s Openbank offers . Raiffeisen Bank’s Vienna unit partnered with Bitpanda to embed crypto access into its retail app. BPCE’s rollout adds one of Europe’s largest cooperative banking groups to that list.
Cointelegraph sought comment from BPCE but received no reply before publication.
Why Is France Debating a Wealth Tax That Includes Crypto?
BPCE’s launch lands in the middle of a broader policy debate in Paris over how the country should treat digital assets. French lawmakers narrowly approved an amendment in October that would extend wealth tax rules to cover “unproductive assets,” including some real estate, luxury excellents and digital assets held above certain thresholds.
The proposal targets individuals with more than $2.3 million in qualifying “unproductive wealth,” who would face a new flat 1% tax. The current system applies only to real estate under a progressive structure. Digital assets would fall under the expanded taxable base if the amendment moves forward.
The measure still needs Senate approval as part of the 2026 budget process. If enacted, France would become one of the first major economies to include crypto within a broad wealth-tax framework, creating new considerations for long-term holders.
Investor Takeaway
What Comes Next for BPCE and Its 12 Million Users?
If the rollout proceeds as planned, BPCE will have one of the largest bank-run crypto trading programs in Europe by 2026. Its model — a paid in-app account, direct custody through a bank subsidiary and phased onboarding — reflects a cautious but steady push by established institutions into areas once dominated by .
