For many years, crypto has been seen as the “outside world” of the traditional financial system — a space that major banks both approached with caution and kept their distance from due to legal risks and extreme volatility. However, that picture is now gradually changing. As Europe’s leading banking groups begin to directly offer cryptocurrency trading services within their own banking apps, the boundary between “traditional finance” and “digital assets” is becoming increasingly blurred. And BPCE — France’s second-largest banking group — is the latest name to step into this arena.
1. Who is BPCE and why is this move especially important?
BPCE (Banques Populaires Caisse d’Épargne) is the second-largest banking group in France, behind only BNP Paribas. It serves tens of millions of retail customers, millions of small and medium-sized enterprises, and operates a nationwide branch network across France. BPCE’s two core brands, Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne, are both long-established retail banks closely associated with the middle class and traditional savers.
For that very reason, the fact that a “giant” like BPCE is proactively bringing crypto into the mainstream banking ecosystem is extremely significant—both financially and psychologically for the market.
Previously, crypto was largely viewed as:
- A high-risk sector
- Lacking a clear legal framework
- Associated with speculation, scams, and money laundering in the public eye
As a result, traditional banks typically adopted an avoidance strategy or exercised extreme caution. Users who wanted to buy crypto were almost forced to:
- Transfer money to crypto exchanges
- Manage their own personal wallets
- Face the risks of asset loss, hacking, and fraud
BPCE’s direct involvement completely changes the game.
Crypto is no longer a “side playground”
When a top-tier national bank offers crypto trading services:
- Crypto is officially recognized as a legitimate financial asset
- It is no longer outside the banking system
- It is placed under strict European regulatory supervision
This has powerful symbolic meaning: crypto is no longer confined to the world of exchanges—it has entered the flow of traditional finance.
Mainstream users gain access in a safer way
For most people:
- Opening a bank account is a familiar process
- Using a banking app is part of everyday life
But using crypto exchanges, managing wallets, and handling private keys remain major psychological barriers.
BPCE has simplified the entire process:
- No need to transfer money to an exchange
- No need to create a separate wallet
- No need to worry about losing private keys
- Trading takes place directly inside the familiar banking app
This is especially important because it opens the door to crypto for mainstream investors, not just speculators or tech-savvy users.
A milestone for the “mainstreamization” of crypto in Europe
BPCE’s move shows that:
- Crypto is increasingly being viewed as a new asset class alongside stocks, bonds, and gold
- Banks are no longer standing on the sidelines but are starting to actively participate in the digital asset market
- Europe is moving closer to a financial model where crypto and traditional banks coexist within the same ecosystem
In other words, BPCE is not just launching a new business service—it is also:
Helping reshape how society views crypto—from a high-risk speculative tool into a legitimate mainstream financial product.
2. The rollout strategy: BPCE chooses to move slowly but surely
Instead of launching crypto services broadly for all customers at once, BPCE has chosen a phased rollout strategy—a very characteristic approach of traditional banks: cautious, controlled, and stability-first.
Specifically, in the initial phase, crypto trading is being offered to only about 2 million customers from certain regional banks within the Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne networks. This is effectively a real-world pilot program, designed to test:
- The stability of the technical infrastructure
- The actual level of user demand
- Operational and customer support capabilities
- Potential risks related to compliance, security, and customer complaints
Only after the system proves to run smoothly without major incidents will BPCE move to the next phase: expanding the service to its full retail base of around 12 million customers between now and 2026.
This is a classic “step-by-step to win the long game” strategy.
A clear signal of long-term commitment
This approach shows that BPCE:
- Does not see crypto as a short-term trend
- Treats it as a serious business line with long-term investment
- Still places system safety and brand reputation at the very top of its priorities
For large banks, even a minor incident involving customer assets can trigger a major media crisis. Therefore, a gradual rollout is almost a mandatory choice.
The legal infrastructure is already in place
One very important detail is that BPCE is not operating “under the radar.” Instead, the service is deployed through its subsidiary Hexarq, which has been officially licensed by the French financial regulator to provide digital asset services.
This means that:
- All crypto trading activities are fully within the legal framework
- Customers are protected by European financial regulations
- The bank bears direct responsibility if any incidents arise
This is a fundamental difference from self-trading on international exchanges, where users typically bear almost all the risks themselves.
Avoiding systemic shock by not going fully “mass market” too fast
Crypto is a market known for:
- Extreme volatility
- Highly sensitive investor psychology
- Strong FOMO effects and panic-driven sell-offs
If access were opened to tens of millions of customers at once, just a single sharp market crash could lead to:
- Waves of customer complaints
- Psychological shock among new investors
- Enormous media pressure on the bank
A phased rollout allows BPCE to:
- Gradually “train” the market
- Observe mainstream investor behavior
- Adjust risk management policies accordingly
From a long-term strategic perspective
Rather than rushing to capture market share, BPCE is choosing to:
Move slowly but surely—safe, but sustainable.
If the pilot phase is successful, BPCE will become:
- One of Europe’s pioneering banks in crypto
- The owner of a massive crypto user base within a traditional banking ecosystem
- Exceptionally well-positioned to benefit as the digital asset market continues to expand over the next 5–10 years
3. Supported cryptocurrencies: Selective rather than a “blanket rollout”
Right from the initial phase, BPCE is not offering trading for dozens or even hundreds of coins like typical crypto exchanges. Instead, it is limiting access to just four digital assets:
This short list is no coincidence—it clearly reflects the risk management mindset of a traditional bank.
Bitcoin (BTC): The pillar of the market
Bitcoin is:
- The first-ever cryptocurrency
- The largest by market capitalization
- Widely recognized by major global financial institutions as “digital gold”
BPCE supporting BTC is almost unavoidable, because it is an asset with:
- High liquidity
- Strong brand recognition
- Excellent suitability for first-time investors
For mainstream users, “buying crypto” is often nearly synonymous with “buying Bitcoin.”
Ethereum (ETH): The foundation of the blockchain ecosystem
If Bitcoin is a store of value, then Ethereum is:
- The infrastructure for DeFi, NFTs, and tokenized assets
- The foundation of thousands of blockchain applications
By including ETH, BPCE shows that:
- It does not view crypto purely as a speculative tool
- It also recognizes the long-term technological value of blockchain
ETH is also widely held by traditional investment funds, making it a natural fit for BPCE’s “mainstream adoption” strategy.
Solana (SOL): A representative of the high-speed blockchain generation
Solana is the most noteworthy choice on the list because:
- It is not a “ultra-traditional” asset like BTC or ETH
- It represents the next generation of blockchains: high speed, low fees, and designed for Web3 and real-world applications
By choosing SOL, BPCE signals that:
- It is not overly conservative
- It is open to new technology platforms
- Yet it still selects large projects with strong ecosystems and deep liquidity
USDC: The “safe digital money” component
USDC is a USD-pegged stablecoin that serves to:
- Reduce volatility
- Provide a “safe haven” during strong market swings
- Enable convenient digital-money-style transactions
By supporting USDC, BPCE aims to:
- Offer a defensive tool for users
- Avoid turning its crypto service into an all-or-nothing speculative gamble
- Promote a more balanced, risk-managed financial experience
Why doesn’t BPCE support more altcoins?
Limiting the offering to just four assets clearly reflects BPCE’s philosophy:
- Safety is prioritized over short-term profits
- The bank deliberately avoids tokens that are:
- Low in liquidity
- Easily subject to price manipulation
- High in legal and regulatory risk
For traditional banks, reputation is even more important than trading fee revenue. Just one incident involving a low-quality token or a scam project could cost BPCE dearly in brand trust.
Strategic perspective
BPCE’s crypto lineup covers all four essential pillars:
BTC – store of value ETH – technology platform SOL – ecosystem growth USDC – stability and defense
This is a minimalist yet well-structured portfolio, perfectly suited for mainstream retail investors—exactly the core customer base of a traditional retail bank.
4. High service fees – the price of safety and convenience
One of the key factors that makes many users hesitate when trading crypto through banks is cost. With BPCE, the announced fees include a €2.99 monthly service maintenance fee, along with a 1.5% fee on each buy or sell transaction. Compared with the general fee levels of international crypto exchanges, this is significantly higher.
However, these fees do not simply cover trading execution. They also reflect the entire supporting service ecosystem, including technical infrastructure, security systems, legal compliance, customer support, and the bank’s responsibility for safeguarding customer assets. In other words, BPCE is not selling “cheap trading”—it is selling safety, legality, and convenience.
For new investors, these factors carry real value. They no longer need to worry about:
- Transferring money to foreign exchanges
- Managing personal wallets and private keys
- The risk of hacking, scams, or losing access to their assets
All buying and selling takes place directly inside a familiar banking app, under the supervision of a financial institution that has existed for hundreds of years. That is precisely why many users are willing to accept higher fees.
Fees as a hidden drag on returns
From an investment perspective, however, these fees also represent a significant drag on profitability, especially for small retail investors and frequent traders. When every round of buying and selling is charged 1.5% on each side, total costs can quickly rise to several percent of invested capital. In a market as volatile as crypto, this “fee erosion” becomes even more noticeable.
This clearly shows that BPCE’s crypto service is not designed for active traders or short-term speculation, but is better suited for:
- New market participants
- Small investors with a long-term holding strategy
- Users who prioritize safety and legal protection over maximizing returns
5. Long-term impact: BPCE and the turning point in the “mainstreamization” of crypto in Europe
BPCE’s official integration of crypto into its banking app is not merely a standalone business decision—it carries powerful symbolic meaning for a major transformation underway in the European financial market. For many years, crypto coexisted alongside the banking system but remained largely separate from it. Now, that boundary is gradually fading.
First and foremost, BPCE’s move is likely to trigger a domino effect across the banking industry. Once a major banking group successfully implements such a model, other banks will find it increasingly difficult to remain on the sidelines. Competitive pressure will force them to:
- Consider integrating crypto into their service ecosystems
- Invest in digital asset infrastructure
- Prepare for a new wave of customers who want to access crypto through regulated, mainstream channels
From the perspective of the crypto market, the participation of traditional banks helps to:
- Attract a more stable flow of capital from mainstream retail investors
- Reduce the image of crypto as a purely “extreme speculative” asset class
- Accelerate the process of legalization and market transparency
More importantly, this serves as a stepping stone for even larger future trends, such as:
- Tokenization of real-world assets (real estate, stocks, bonds)
- Stablecoin-based payments within the banking system
- Deeper integration of blockchain into traditional financial infrastructure
The trade-off: more safety, less “wildness”
However, this transition also comes with significant challenges. As crypto becomes embedded in the banking system, the market will increasingly:
- Be subject to tighter regulation
- Lose part of its original “freedom”
- Face stronger controls over capital flows and user identity
This means that crypto in the future may be safer, but also less “wild” than in its early days.
A macro-level historical shift
From a broader macroeconomic perspective, BPCE is participating in the restructuring of the financial system itself—a system in which crypto is no longer an opponent of banks, but rather a component within the system. This is a historic transition, one that could shape the direction of finance over the next 10–20 years.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, legal, or professional advice. Always conduct your own research, consider your financial situation, and, if necessary, consult with a licensed professional before making any decisions.
Join MEXC and Get up to $10,000 Bonus!
Sign Up
