Banking Meets Bitcoin: French Banking Giant Introduces Crypto Services for Millions

Bitcoin

France's second-largest banking group has officially launched a service allowing customers to trade cryptocurrency through its mobile apps. As of Monday, BPCE has made this option available to selected users of Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne.

Approximately 2 million individuals associated with four regional banks can now engage in buying and selling Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and USDC via these apps.

Key Highlights

BPCE has launched crypto trading services in its mobile apps for selected customers.
Available cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and USDC.
The rollout begins with users from specific branches, expanding to 12 million clients by 2026.
A separate unit, Hexarq, manages customers' crypto accounts.
The service faces competition from fintech companies offering similar features.

Limited Initial Rollout

This initial launch includes the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur branch of Caisse d’Épargne as well as the Île-de-France division of Banque Populaire, among others. BPCE plans to monitor the early use of this service closely. This controlled rollout aims to identify and address any technical challenges and enhance the user experience before making the feature available to a wider audience. If the rollout proceeds smoothly, BPCE aims to expand this service across its remaining 25 regional entities by 2026, ultimately reaching an estimated retail base of around 12 million clients.

🔴 EXCLUSIVE @TheBigWhale_: BPCE now allows customers to buy crypto assets. Starting this Monday, customers of the French bank will be able to purchase BTC, ETH, SOL, and USDC: https://t.co/J2C4UnWi68@GroupeBPCE, one of Europe’s leading banks, is initiating this service as a first step… pic.twitter.com/3olRgVoot4 — Raphaël Bloch 🐳 (@Raph_Bloch) December 6, 2025

Crypto Trading

BPCE has established a dedicated unit known as Hexarq to manage customers' cryptocurrency accounts. Users will have their own in-app digital asset account, operated by Hexarq, rather than depending on external exchanges or third-party wallets. This approach ensures that custody remains within the bank's ecosystem. However, it does involve a monthly fee of €2.99 and a trading commission of 1.5% on transactions.

The Banking Landscape Faces Fintech Competition

Analysts point to the growth of fintech companies as a significant factor driving traditional banks to adopt similar services. Competitors such as Revolut, Deblock, Bitstack, and Trade Republic have gained popularity by offering early access to cryptocurrency trading, which has attracted a considerable number of retail users.

Crypto Market Capitalization Total crypto market cap currently at $3.05 trillion. Chart: TradingView

Traditional banks now face the risk of losing younger customers unless they can provide comparable services. Several banks across Europe have already embraced in-app trading. For instance, BBVA offers Bitcoin and Ethereum, Openbank (part of Santander) lists five cryptocurrencies, and Raiffeisen in Vienna has partnered with Bitpanda to offer similar trading features. BPCE's entry into this space reflects a broader trend and may incentivize other major banks to take action.

While BPCE's fees are higher than those charged by many crypto-first platforms, customers may find the trade-off acceptable as it allows for seamless integration of cryptocurrency with their bank accounts and everyday financial services. For many users, the trustworthiness and convenience of having their crypto tied to a traditional banking entity outweigh the appeal of the lowest possible fees.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView