France’s second‑largest banking group, BPCE, has started letting customers buy and sell Bitcoin (BTC),Ethereum(ETH) and Solana (
$SOL ) directly inside its regular banking apps. In the first phase, about 2 million users of Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne can already trade these coins plus the USDC stablecoin from the same app they use for daily banking. (uk.finance.yahoo.com)
The service works through a new “digital asset account” inside the app. Clients pay a fixed monthly fee of around 2.99 euros and a 1.5% fee on each trade, with a small minimum per order. The crypto accounts are run by Hexarq, BPCE’s specialist crypto subsidiary, which received formal approval from French regulators to offer digital asset services. (mexc.co)
For now, the rollout is limited to four regional banks, but BPCE plans to expand crypto access to its full network by 2026, potentially reaching more than 12 million customers. If that happens, this will be one of the biggest real‑world tests of how normal bank clients actually use crypto when it’s only a few taps away. (cryptodnes.bg)
Why does this matter for the market? First, it lowers the barrier for beginners who trust their bank but are nervous about sending money to a separate exchange. Second, it quietly increases long‑term demand for large, liquid coins like
$BTC ,
$ETH and
$SOL , because every paycheck‑earner with a French bank account now has a simple path to buy them. Over time, this kind of integration usually helps turn “crypto curiosity” into small but steady recurring purchases. (coinstats.app)
At the same time, this is not pure hype. Fees are higher than on many standalone exchanges, and France is also discussing a tax on “unproductive wealth,” which could include some crypto holdings. So this move is positive for adoption, but it doesn’t mean instant price rockets; it mainly strengthens the long‑term case for major coins, especially if other European banks copy BPCE’s model. (mexc.co)
As a trader or investor, the key takeaway is simple: crypto is slowly moving from niche apps into normal banking infrastructure. That usually doesn’t show up in the chart tomorrow, but it can matter a lot for where the next big cycle tops out.
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