BPCE to Launch In‑App Crypto Trading for Millions in France
French banking group BPCE is set to enable retail customers to trade Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Solana (SOL) and USDC directly within its Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne mobile applications starting Monday, according to The Big Whale.
The initial launch will include clients of four regional banks — among them Banque Populaire Île-de-France and Caisse d’Épargne Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur — reaching approximately 2 million customers. BPCE plans to extend the service across its remaining 25 regional entities through 2026, ultimately making it available to its 12 million retail customers, the report said.
A person familiar with the matter told The Big Whale that the phased rollout is intended to monitor performance at launch before scaling to additional regions.
BPCE introduces paid in-app crypto accounts
Crypto purchases and sales will be executed through a dedicated digital asset account within the apps, operated by Hexarq, BPCE’s crypto subsidiary, the report stated. The account carries a monthly fee of 2.99 euros ($3.48) and a 1.5% commission per trade, with a minimum of $1.16. Customers will be able to use the service without relying on external exchanges or third-party wallets.
The move comes amid intensifying competition in Europe from crypto-friendly fintechs such as Revolut, Deblock, Bitstack and Trade Republic. Several banks in the region have introduced similar offerings: BBVA enables Spanish customers to buy, sell and hold Bitcoin and Ether within its app with in-house custody; Santander’s Openbank provides trading and custody for five cryptocurrencies; and Raiffeisen Bank’s Vienna-based unit partnered with Bitpanda to deliver crypto services to retail clients.
France moves to tax crypto as “unproductive wealth”
Last month, French lawmakers narrowly approved an amendment to expand the country’s wealth tax to cover “unproductive assets,” including certain real estate, luxury items and digital assets such as cryptocurrencies. Under the measure, individuals holding more than $2.3 million in qualifying “unproductive wealth” would face a new flat 1% tax, shifting from the current progressive real estate wealth tax base. The proposal must still be approved by the Senate as part of the 2026 budget process before becoming law.
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