BPCE to Launch Crypto Trading for Millions of Retail Customers

Major French banking group BPCE is preparing to roll out integrated crypto trading services to retail customers, marking one of the largest moves into digital assets by a European bank. Starting Monday, users of Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne apps will gain access to buying and selling popular cryptocurrencies, according to The Big Whale. The initial rollout covers four regional banks, including Banque Populaire Île-de-France and Caisse d’Épargne Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, giving roughly two million customers the ability to trade bitcoin, ether, solana, and the USDC stablecoin directly from their existing banking applications.

The launch represents a significant step in bringing regulated crypto services into mainstream European banking. BPCE plans to extend the service gradually through 2026, potentially opening access to its entire 12 million–customer retail network. To keep user funds secure and compliant, BPCE is offering the service through a dedicated digital asset account operated by Hexarq, the group’s crypto-focused subsidiary. Each crypto account includes a monthly fee of 2.99 euros and a 1.5% commission per transaction, with a minimum one-euro charge per trade. According to BPCE, the phased introduction will allow the bank to closely track adoption trends and ensure system stability before expanding the offering nationwide.

The move places BPCE among a growing number of European financial institutions integrating cryptocurrency trading into traditional banking. Spanish banking giant BBVA already allows customers to trade digital assets within its local app, while Santander’s Openbank supports trading and custody for several major cryptocurrencies. In Austria, a unit of Raiffeisen Bank has partnered with Bitpanda to deliver crypto services directly to its clients. BPCE’s entry into the market signals increasing confidence among established banks that customer demand for secure, regulated access to crypto is here to stay, potentially accelerating broader adoption across the region.