BPCE, a heavyweight French bank, is launching its crypto trading service this week via its mobile applications. A revolution: buying bitcoin will become as easy as checking your balance.
In brief
- BPCE is rolling out crypto trading to 2 million customers via Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne starting this Monday.
- Four cryptos will be available: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and USDC.
- The fees are €2.99 per month plus 1.5% commission per transaction.
- The objective is to have 12 million customers equipped by 2026.
A measured but ambitious offensive
BPCE is launching its crypto trading service this Monday to customers of four pilot regional 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 application.
The system is based on a separate digital asset account, operated by Hexarq, the group's crypto subsidiary. The prices displayed remain competitive: 2.99 euros per month of subscription and a commission of 1.5% on each transaction, with a minimum of one euro. A formula designed to democratize access to cryptocurrencies among a general public clientele that is still hesitant.
This pilot phase will allow BPCE to assess the real appetite of the French for these new assets before the major deployment. By 2026, all of the group's 12 million individual customers should have access to this service.
The timing appears particularly opportune. Across the Atlantic, Coinbase currently supports “many of the largest American banks” in their crypto projects. This global dynamic illustrates a profound transformation of the banking sector.
Banking Europe converts to cryptos
BPCE joins a European movement that is already well underway. The Spanish bank BBVA has been offering crypto trading directly via its mobile application for several months.
Openbank, a subsidiary of Santander, offers access to five cryptocurrencies with an integrated custody service. In Austria, a Viennese subsidiary of Raiffeisen Bank has partnered with Bitpanda to equip its customers.
This convergence reflects a paradigm shift. Traditional banking institutions understand that ignoring digital assets would mean missing the bandwagon of financial innovation. The European regulatory framework MiCA, now in force, finally offers the legal clarity expected by historical players.
The issues go beyond simple income diversification. Banks are seeking to retain a young clientele, naturally attracted to cryptos.
France benefits from solid advantages in this race. The country has had a crypto regulatory framework since 2019 with 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 accept this offer.
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