While European banks point fingers at regulators, BNP Paribas clients in France are gaining access to six exchange-traded notes on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Starting March 30, 2026, the major European bank BNP Paribas will provide its retail clients in France (including Hello Bank! users) with access to six crypto ETNs.
This is the bank's first such move for mass-market clients, although BNP Paribas has long been experimenting with blockchain in corporate products (bond issuance, payments).
An ETN is an exchange-traded note. Simply put, it's a security that tracks the price of an underlying asset (in this case, Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency).
Key benefits for investors:
1. No need to buy and store actual cryptocurrency
2. ETNs trade through a regular brokerage account like stocks or ETFs
3. The product complies with MiFID II rules (the European directive on financial instrument markets)
Summary for investors:
If you're a BNP Paribas client in France - you're getting simple, regulated access to the crypto market through your familiar bank.