French Banking Giant BPCE Launches In-App Crypto Trading

French banking giant BPCE is set to launch in-app crypto trading for its retail customers, allowing them to buy and sell Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, and USDC directly through its Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Epargne mobile apps starting Monday.

This initiative will initially serve clients from four regional banks, including Banque Populaire Ile-de-France and Caisse d'Epargne Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, reaching approximately 2 million customers.

BPCE plans to gradually expand the service to its remaining 25 regional entities by 2026, ultimately providing access to its full retail base of 12 million customers. Trading will be facilitated through a dedicated digital asset account managed by Hexarq, BPCE's crypto subsidiary, with a monthly fee of 2.99 euros and a 1.5% commission per trade.

This move aligns BPCE with other European financial institutions that have integrated crypto trading, such as BBVA and Santander's Openbank. In related news, French lawmakers have approved an amendment to extend the country's wealth tax to include digital assets, which may impact the crypto landscape in France moving forward.

The proposal includes a new flat 1% tax for individuals holding more than $2.3 million in qualifying unproductive wealth, pending Senate approval.