Belgium’s second‑largest bank KBC Group is breaking new ground in European finance by becoming the first bank in the country to offer regulated Bitcoin and Ethereum trading to retail customers, a major milestone for crypto adoption by traditional financial institutions.
Starting the week of February 16, 2026, individual investors in Belgium will be able to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ether through KBC’s existing online investment platform Bolero, the bank announced in a statement this week. The new service will operate under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto‑Assets Regulation (MiCA), placing it squarely within a regulated framework designed to bring clarity and investor protections to digital‑asset markets.
KBC has submitted a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) notification to Belgian authorities, signalling its intent to comply with emerging EU crypto rules and establish custodial infrastructure for digital‑asset trading. Under the rollout plan, traders must complete a knowledge and experience test to ensure they understand the risks associated with volatile crypto markets, and the platform will operate on an execution‑only model without personalised investment advice. Assets traded on Bolero will remain within a closed‑loop system with no ability to transfer to external wallets or exchanges, reducing fraud and anti‑money‑laundering risks.
This move positions KBC at the forefront of crypto integration within traditional banking in Belgium, competing with foreign exchanges such as Binance, Coinbase and Revolut that have dominated retail crypto access to date. The decision also reflects growing retail demand, particularly among younger investors, for regulated and secure ways to access digital currencies through familiar banking channels.
The launch of crypto trading services by KBC highlights how MiCA’s regulatory framework is enabling established financial institutions to enter digital‑asset markets without operating outside the law. As MiCA becomes fully effective across the EU and individual states like Belgium implement national oversight, analysts expect similar offerings from other European banks, potentially accelerating mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies.
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