France’s second-largest bank, CACEIS, is in exclusive talks to acquire French cryptocurrency platform Meria, a move that would significantly expand its digital asset business as demand for regulated crypto services grows across Europe.
In case the deal goes through, CACEIS would gain access to Meria’s customer base of 150,000 people, €350 million worth of client assets, as well as its licensed crypto platform, which would operate under the MiCA framework set forth by the European Union.
Founded in 2017 as Just Mining, the company changed its name to Meria in 2022. Meria is owned by crypto businessman Owen Simonin, also known as Hasheur, who runs crypto brokerage and staking services for both retail and institutional clients.
Acquisition Supports Digital Asset Strategy
The proposed acquisition comes weeks after CACEIS became the first French credit institution to receive a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) crypto-asset service provider (CASP) license in June 2025. Buying an established crypto platform would allow the bank to expand its regulated digital asset business more quickly.
Industry sources said Meria was not the first company CACEIS approached as it looked to grow its presence in the crypto sector. One executive said, “They have been looking for a long time and have already approached a few other players.”
France’s Crypto Market Continues to Mature
France’s digital asset industry is undergoing changes as the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) rules take effect across Europe. The new framework has increased compliance requirements, prompting some financial institutions to buy established crypto firms instead of building their own platforms.
Companies with MiCA licenses have become attractive acquisition targets because they already meet regulatory requirements and offer services beyond crypto trading, including staking, tokenization, and digital asset infrastructure. Those capabilities could support future products such as tokenized funds and regulated digital securities.
Stablecoins Strengthen Crédit Agricole’s Vision
The talks come after Crédit Agricole recently launched its euro-backed stablecoin, EURXT. CACEIS issues the ERC-20 token on Ethereum with full euro backing under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. Institutional clients have also used EURXT to subscribe to a tokenized money market fund managed by Amundi.
CACEIS has extended its digital assets operations via custody, tokenized funds, and Bitcoin exchange traded products. The proposed merger of Meria is yet to receive regulatory clearance. Should the acquisition go through, then this will see an expansion in the digital assets portfolio of Crédit Agricole.
Related: Tether CEO Says MiCA Rules Are Too Risky for USDT Reserves
