KBC Bank Launches Regulated Cryptocurrency Trading in Belgium

KBC Bank to Launch Trading of Bitcoin and Ether in Belgium

KBC Bank, one of the largest banks in Belgium, is set to offer trading of the cryptocurrencies Bitcoin and Ether for retail investors starting next month, through its investment platform, Bolero. The announcement was made on Thursday, indicating that KBC customers will now be able to buy and sell cryptocurrency assets in a secure and fully regulated environment, marking a first in Belgium.

The cryptocurrency trading will be conducted in accordance with the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations and will operate on the bank's exclusive custody architecture. While KBC asserts that it complies with MiCA requirements, Belgium has yet to issue licenses on this matter, as per the public register maintained by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).

KBC officials have stated that the bank will be the first in Belgium to comply with MiCA regulations and have submitted a comprehensive notification to the competent authority to provide cryptocurrency trading services.

In this announcement, Erik Luts, the Chief Innovation Officer of KBC Group, stated, "By providing the opportunity to buy and sell cryptocurrencies within a regulated framework, we are making innovation concrete and accessible."

Initially, KBC had planned to launch trading of Bitcoin and Ether through Bolero in July 2025; however, these plans have been expedited, and national legislation was recently adopted to implement MiCA in Belgium, set to take effect on January 3, 2026.