EXCLUSIVE. Fortuneo could allow its customers to invest in cryptos

Allowing customers to invest in digital assets has become a must have. Especially for fintechs and neobanks.

According to our sources, French neobank Fortuneo could allow its clients to invest in cryptocurrencies. "It's a matter of months," explains a source close to the neobank. "We are still in the exploratory phase," another source cautiously adds.

When contacted, Fortuneo did not respond to our inquiries.

The Crédit Mutuel Arkéa subsidiary could collaborate with various providers offering white-label solutions for buying, selling, and storing digital assets.

Sopra Steria is among the potential partners. The firm has launched services enabling banks to offer crypto solutions to their customers.

A topic that has "become important"

Fortuneo's plans come at a time when many banks are accelerating into digital assets, while bitcoin and other assets are at record levels; bitcoin recently topped $120,000.

"Cryptos are still peripheral topics for fintechs and banks, but they are all creating offerings, even small ones, because it has become important," says Nicolas Darbo, partner specialising in fintechs and payments at Accuracy.

BoursoBank offers for the past few weeks for its customers to invest in Bitcoin ETPs from BlackRock and CoinShares, which has just obtained its MiCA licence in France. Also according to our information, France's leading online bank is also planning to extend its services to buying and selling crypto assets.

Other banks such as Deutsche Bank or BPCE, via its subsidiary Hexarq, are also preparing to allow their customers to buy and sell digital assets. "It's taking time, but we're making progress," confirms someone close to the French bank.