BPCE Unveils Crypto Trading for Millions of French Clients

BPCE launches crypto trading and custody, letting millions of clients buy, sell, and hold digital assets via banking apps. The move marks a major step for institutional crypto adoption in Europe.

BPCE, France’s second-largest banking group, has launched cryptocurrency trading and custody services, marking a significant step for institutional adoption of digital assets in Europe. The rollout begins with four regional banks, targeting around two million clients, and will expand to the rest of the group in 2026. Customers can buy, sell, and hold major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum directly through BPCE’s banking apps, with a dedicated digital asset account priced at €2.99 per month and a 1.5% trading fee. The initiative is managed by BPCE’s crypto subsidiary, Hexarq, which secured regulatory authorization last year. Additionally, BPCE will offer crypto trading and custody for institutional and high-net-worth clients starting December 2025, leveraging its subsidiary Natixis. The move aligns with France’s progressive regulatory framework and the EU’s MiCA regulation, providing legitimacy and stability to the crypto sector and signaling a convergence of traditional finance with the digital economy.