TL;DR
- KBC Bank has launched retail crypto trading in Belgium, allowing customers to trade Bitcoin and Ether through Bolero under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).
- The service is live and limited in scope, with performance now judged on day-to-day use, regulatory oversight, and customer uptake rather than launch announcements.
Belgium’s KBC Bank is preparing to offer crypto trading to retail customers. The move makes it one of the first major Belgian banks to shift from planning to execution. Customers will be able to trade Bitcoin and Ether through Bolero, the bank’s existing online investment platform.
The rollout is limited to retail customers in Belgium. It takes place under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), which now provides a clear regulatory framework for banks offering crypto services.
What the offering includes
At launch, customers will be able to trade Bitcoin and Ether directly through Bolero. The assets will sit alongside traditional investment products such as equities and ETFs. However, the service is limited to spot trading. It does not include leverage, derivatives, stablecoins, staking, crypto lending, or access to decentralized finance applications. KBC integrated the crypto trading feature into its existing brokerage environment rather than offering it through a standalone app. There is no indication that the service will extend beyond retail clients or expand outside Belgium in the near term.
Why the launch is happening now
KBC’s move follows the implementation of MiCA. The regulation establishes uniform rules for crypto services across the European Union. Before MiCA, banks faced fragmented national regulations and legal uncertainty. These factors complicated efforts to offer crypto trading to retail customers.
KBC had previously featured in media coverage as a bank weighing crypto-related offerings. With regulatory clarity now established, the bank has shifted from planning to delivery.
How the rollout is structured
KBC relies on Bolero’s customer onboarding processes for its crypto trading offers. The setup also uses established compliance checks and investor protection measures. The service remains within the bank’s existing investment infrastructure, thus avoiding redirecting users to third-party crypto exchanges.
The limited asset selection signals a cautious rollout. The brokerage-style structure also reflects a focus on regulated access rather than rapid expansion. KBC has not indicated any plans to hold crypto assets on its own balance sheet.
How KBC frames the move
Through the launch of its crypto trading service, KBC Bank is responding to customer demand for regulated crypto access. The bank has stressed that the move does not represent a strategic shift in its core business. Further, it emphasized the importance of operating within a supervised financial environment.
This positioning aligns with the approach taken by several European banks. Many have waited for regulatory clarity before introducing crypto services for retail customers.
Broader EU context
KBC Bank’s crypto trading product goes live as many EU banks continue to assess how to offer crypto services under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). Several institutions have launched pilot programs or exploratory initiatives, but relatively few large retail banks have moved to live offerings.
The Belgian bank’s entry adds to competitive pressure within the sector, as MiCA lowers legal barriers for regulated crypto trading across the bloc. At the same time, the limited scope of KBC’s service reflects the cautious pace at which banks continue to approach retail crypto access.
>>> Read more: Revolut MiCA License Sets Path to Europe’s Super-App
What comes next
With the launch in place, KBC Bank’s crypto trading offer becomes part of its day-to-day retail investment business within Bolero. From this point on, the focus shifts to how the feature performs in routine use, including onboarding, disclosures, trade execution, and customer support. Any further steps, such as expanding the asset list or access, will depend on how the service holds up under ongoing supervision within the MiCA framework once real retail usage is in place.
