French financial group BPCE is preparing to give millions of its retail customers access to crypto trading directly inside its mobile banking apps. A report from The Big Whale states that users of Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne apps will be able to buy and sell Bitcoin, Ether, Solana and USDC from Monday.
The first phase will cover clients from four regional banks, including Banque Populaire Île-de-France and Caisse d’Épargne Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. This initial rollout targets nearly two million customers before BPCE gradually expands the service across its remaining regional entities through 2026.
An insider told The Big Whale that the phased launch is meant to observe performance before the service is scaled to the group’s entire 12 million customer base. If successful, BPCE will become one of the first traditional European banking institutions to integrate crypto trading at this scale.
Bitcoin Set for Possible Year-End Rise
Coinbase Institutional expects Bitcoin to recover strongly in December, with macro conditions shifting in favour of risk assets. The firm’s report highlights an increase in global M2 supply along with rising expectations that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates soon.
According to Coinbase Institutional, Fed rate-cut odds have climbed to over ninety per cent as of December four. The report also notes that the market weakness seen in October followed predictable liquidity trends, with conditions now setting up for what the firm describes as a potential “December reversal”.
A year-end uptick would align with historical patterns. Financial markets often experience the “Santa Claus rally”, a seasonal rise in asset prices during the holiday period.
Western Union Plans ‘Stable Card’ for Inflation-Hit Economies
Western Union is preparing to launch a new product known as a “stable card” designed to protect users in countries suffering from extreme inflation. The plan was revealed by chief financial officer Matthew Cagwin during the UBS Global Technology and AI conference.
The initiative builds on the company’s broader shift into digital assets and stablecoin-based services. Cagwin used Argentina as an example, where inflation recently reached between 250 and 300 per cent. He described how remittances can erode dramatically within weeks. A family receiving 500 dollars can find its value reduced to 300 dollars within a month.
The stable card aims to offer a more secure way for people to preserve value while still using Western Union’s remittance network. Cagwin said the card would act as an enhanced version of the company’s existing prepaid card available in the US.
Growing Integration of Crypto in Traditional Finance
The developments highlight a broader trend in which established financial institutions are adopting digital asset technology. From BPCE’s in-app trading services to Western Union’s stablecoin-linked card, major players in finance are increasingly exploring practical applications of blockchain tools.
At the same time, institutional sentiment around Bitcoin is strengthening. If Coinbase Institutional’s outlook proves accurate, the final month of the year could bring renewed momentum to the crypto market.
