French banking giant BPCE is preparing to offer cryptocurrency trading services to its individual customers.
Starting Monday, the group will make Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and USDC transactions accessible through the Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Épargne mobile apps. Initially, the service will be available to customers of four regional banks, including Banque Populaire Île-de-France and Caisse d'Épargne Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
Following a pilot phase covering approximately 2 million customers, BPCE aims to expand reach to its entire individual customer base of 12 million by 2026.
Transaction Details and Fees
Cryptocurrency transactions will be conducted through a separate account managed by Hexarq, BPCE's digital asset-focused subsidiary. This account will charge a monthly fee of €2.99, with a 1.5% commission or a minimum €1 fee on transactions.
Industry Context and European Trends
BPCE representatives state that the gradual transition was chosen to closely monitor the pace of adoption and system performance. As banks' crypto integration accelerates in Europe, BBVA offers its clients direct crypto trading through its banking app in Spain. Santander's Openbank platform offers access to five different crypto assets, while in Austria, a unit of Raiffeisen Bank has partnered with Bitpanda to offer crypto services to its clients.