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Based on the CoinDesk article and related reports, French banking giant BPCE (Groupe BPCE) is set to launch cryptocurrency trading services for its retail customers.

Here is a summary of the key points:

  • Launch Details: Starting Monday, December 8, 2025, the service will be available to approximately 2 million retail clients during its initial pilot phase.

  • Platforms: Customers will be able to buy and sell cryptocurrencies directly through the mobile apps of BPCE's two major banking networks: Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Épargne.

  • Regional Rollout: The pilot will begin with customers of four regional banks, including Banque Populaire Île-de-France and Caisse d'Épargne Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

  • Supported Assets: The service will initially support trading for Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Solana (SOL), and the stablecoin USDC.

  • Cost: The service involves a €2.99 monthly fee for a dedicated digital asset account, plus a 1.5% transaction fee on trades (with a minimum charge of €1).

  • Management: The crypto operations are managed by Hexarq, BPCE's dedicated digital asset subsidiary, which holds the necessary PSAN (Digital Asset Service Provider) registration in France.

  • Future Expansion: The group aims to roll out the service to its entire base of 12 million retail clients by 2026, pending the results of this pilot phase.

This move makes BPCE one of the largest traditional financial institutions in Europe to integrate direct crypto trading into its standard retail banking interface.