BNP Paribas is expanding its digital asset offerings in France by introducing six crypto-linked investment products for everyday investors.
Starting Monday, clients will be able to invest in exchange-traded notes (ETNs) that track the prices of Bitcoin and Ether. These will be available through regular investment accounts, including for retail clients, entrepreneurs, and private banking users.
The idea is simple: investors can get exposure to crypto prices without actually buying or storing cryptocurrencies themselves.
This means no need for digital wallets or dealing with crypto exchanges. Instead, everything stays within a traditional and regulated investment setup, which many investors find safer and easier to use.
However, there’s a trade-off. Because these are financial products issued by a bank, investors take on some credit risk—meaning the investment depends on the issuer meeting its obligations.
This move is part of BNP Paribas’ bigger push into digital finance.
In recent years, the bank has been active in blockchain projects, including helping issue Europe’s first government bond on blockchain for Slovenia. It has also joined the Canton Foundation alongside other major banks to support institutional blockchain systems.
BNP Paribas is not alone in this trend. Across Europe, more banks are offering crypto-linked products instead of direct crypto trading.
For example, ING has expanded its crypto ETN offerings in Germany, while the United Kingdom reopened retail access to these products in 2025 after regulators changed their stance.
In short, banks are finding ways to bring crypto exposure into traditional finance—giving investors a simpler and more regulated way to take part in the market without directly holding digital assets.
