French bank BPCE is set to offer crypto trading to 2 million retail customers through its mobile apps, with plans to expand to all 12 million customers by 2026. The service will be managed by Hexarq, with a monthly fee of 2.99 euros and a 1.5% commission per trade. Competition is rising among European banks and fintechs offering crypto services.

French lawmakers have approved a wealth tax extension to include “unproductive assets” like crypto holdings. Individuals with over $2.3 million in such assets will face a flat 1% tax. The proposal is part of the 2026 budget process and must pass the Senate to become law.

BPCE’s move aligns with other European banks like BBVA, Santander, and Raiffeisen Bank, which offer crypto services to their customers. The competition is heating up between traditional banks and crypto-friendly fintechs in Europe.

The phased rollout of BPCE’s crypto trading service is designed to monitor its performance before scaling across all regional entities by 2026. The move makes BPCE one of the first major traditional European banks to offer digital assets to its retail customers.

Read more at Coin Telegraph: France’s BPCE to Launch In-App Trading for BTC, ETH, SOL and USDC