KBC will let retail customers in Belgium buy and sell Bitcoin and Ether from Feb. 16. Trading will occur via its custodial architecture and the online platform Bolero, the bank announced.
The service launches under the EU’s Markets in Crypto‑Assets Regulation, MiCA. KBC said trading will run on its proprietary custodial system.
KBC said it submitted a full crypto asset service provider notification to the competent authority. “By offering the opportunity to purchase and sell crypto within a regulated framework, we are making innovation concrete and accessible,” the bank quoted Erik Luts.
Belgian authorities had not issued any MiCA licenses yet, according to the public register maintained by ESMA. The bank’s European public affairs adviser also shared the news in a LinkedIn post.
Belgium published its MiCA implementing law in December 2025, making the rules effective on Jan. 3, 2026, as shown in the official gazette. The law designates the Financial Services and Markets Authority and the National Bank of Belgium as crypto supervisors.
Member states continue to debate central oversight and license passporting under MiCA. Some countries favor stronger EU supervision while others warn centralization could harm competitiveness.
