France’s largest bank to debut Bitcoin, Ether ETNs for French retail clients tomorrow

BNP Paribas, France's largest lender, announced it will introduce six new exchange-traded notes (ETNs) tied to Bitcoin and Ethereum on its French exchange platform starting March 30th. These ETNs, offered under MiFID II regulations, allow millions of individual and private banking clients to gain indirect exposure to crypto assets without direct ownership, though they carry issuer credit risk. Issued by vetted asset managers, the products will initially be available to various client segments in France, with a phased international rollout planned. BNP Paribas has been an early mover in blockchain, exploring use cases in trade finance and securities settlement, and is part of the Qivalis consortium developing a euro-pegged stablecoin targeting a late-2026 launch under MiCA rules. The move comes as the French retail investment base has grown significantly, potentially channeling substantial capital toward Bitcoin and Ethereum if even a small portion of the estimated €2 trillion in household liquid savings is allocated to these new instruments.

(Source：Crypto Briefing)