KBC Bank to Offer Bitcoin and Ether Trading in Belgium under MiCA
KBC, one of Belgium’s largest lenders, plans to introduce Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) trading for retail clients next month via its proprietary custody setup and investment platform.
Starting Feb. 16, KBC customers will be able to buy and sell crypto assets on the bank’s online investment platform, Bolero, the firm announced on Thursday.
KBC said the launch will allow self-directed investors in Belgium to access cryptocurrencies in a secure, fully regulated setting, describing it as a first for the country.
The bank stated the service is aligned with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and will run on KBC’s in-house custodial infrastructure.
KBC cites MiCA compliance as Belgium has yet to issue licenses
KBC said it expects to be the first Belgian bank to satisfy MiCA requirements and has submitted a comprehensive crypto-asset service provider (CASP) notification to the relevant authority to enable crypto trading services.
Erik Luts, KBC Group’s chief innovation officer, said offering crypto purchases and sales within a regulated framework makes innovation tangible and accessible to clients.
KBC Bank’s European public affairs adviser Michaël Cloots shared the bank’s crypto trading news in a LinkedIn post on Thursday.
The bank had previously outlined plans to add BTC and ETH trading on Bolero in July 2025, subject to regulatory approval anticipated by year-end.
KBC did not specify which authority it engaged, and Belgian regulators have not yet granted any MiCA licenses, according to the public register maintained by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).
Belgium’s MiCA regime has recently taken effect
While MiCA entered into full force in late 2025, Belgium only recently enacted national implementing measures. The country published its implementing law in December 2025, with MiCA becoming legally effective domestically on Jan. 3, 2026, according to the Belgian Official Gazette.
Source: Belgian Official Gazette
The law designates the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) and the National Bank of Belgium (NBB) as the competent authorities for crypto-asset market oversight.
Belgium’s delayed implementation comes amid EU-level discussions on whether to grant the European Securities and Markets Authority centralized supervisory powers and allow MiCA licenses issued in one member state to be passported across the bloc. Some member states, including France, have supported giving ESMA direct oversight of major crypto firms, citing concerns that fragmented supervision could pose risks to the EU’s financial autonomy.
France has also criticized broad passporting and has indicated it could contest licenses issued by other jurisdictions if standards differ, while others, notably Malta, have opposed further centralization on competitiveness and innovation grounds.
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