BPCE subsidiary Hexarq earns French regulatory approval to launch crypto services, expanding digital asset access for 35 million customers.
Groupe BPCE has advanced its digital asset strategy as its subsidiary Hexarq secured French regulatory approval to offer crypto services. The group is looking to deploy such services in stages from late 2025, representing a significant move in the regulation of the banking sector in France.
BPCE Advances Crypto Integration Across Retail Networks
Hexarq was authorized by the AMF (Agence des marchés financiers) in the area of PSAN, proving total respect of the French rules related to digital assets. This registration makes BPCE only the second major French bank to get this status, after SG Forge.
JUST IN: 🇫🇷 €1.6 trillion banking giant BPCE now allows its customers to buy and sell cryptocurrencies. pic.twitter.com/irbf8tckoL
— Whale Insider (@WhaleInsider) December 6, 2025
Moreover, the approval bolsters BPCE’s plans to provide Bitcoin-linked services to customers of Junto’s customers (Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Epargne). Several industry updates and regulatory notices highlight the importance of this development for France’s emerging crypto ecosystem.
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The group got limited service rollouts underway in December 2025. Early access goes to select regional entities, and access is scheduled to go full steam ahead in 2026. In their reports, the main focus of BPCE is to ensure that they use this steady approach to reduce operational risk while increasing the digital services. References from sector publications show increasing customer demand for regulated access to crypto in known banking apps.
Hexarq Targets Broader Adoption Through Retail Channels
Customers will soon buy, sell, and swap their assets like Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, and USDC within their existing mobile applications. Transactions will cost 1.5% of the amount with a minimum of 1 euro, whilst accounts have a monthly fee of 2.99 euros. This model represents BPCE’s vision to provide easy access and be responsible for compliance and infrastructure costs.
Furthermore, the integration is done with the purpose of keeping clients who could migrate to external crypto platforms. A bank insider said customer retention is at the core of the project. Additionally, the bank anticipates new client interest in light of growing safe digital asset exposure demand. Industry blogs propose that established financial institutions are seeing such offers as essential in a competitive retail banking setting.
Regulatory Leadership Positions France Ahead of EU Rules
France intends to continue to establish itself as a leader in digital asset regulation. The PSAN framework is very similar to the EU’s MiCA regime, which will be responsible for unifying regulations across member states. By meeting the standards of BPCE’s PSAN, its operation can be kept secure under national law, but it is also providing for wider requirements across Europe. Analysts point to this alignment as a huge boon for early entrants such as BPCE.
Meanwhile, BPCE’s investment bank, Natixis, has another path to follow. Natixis instead focuses on tokenized financial instruments and market infrastructure as opposed to retail holdings. Sector reports mention this dual approach as positioning BPCE to answer both consumer demand and institutional innovation. Therefore, the general group is still in a place to be involved in several segments of digital finance.
Implications for Market Access and Liquidity
As Hexarq continues its rollout, analysts have reason to expect the offerings to make their mark on customer behavior throughout the retail banking sector in France. Increased availability may result in shifting liquidity patterns, particularly when clients transfer funds from non-regulated exchanges to regulated bank exchanges.
Additionally, many observers believe large banks can support orderly liquidation during volatile periods. They argue that bank-backed digital asset services create more structured options for customers. This support also helps keep transactions within regulated channels.
Overall, BPCE’s move highlights a critical moment for France’s banking system, as it combines traditional tools for security with new digital tools for millions of users.
