KBC, one of Belgium’s largest banking groups, plans to open Bitcoin and Ether trading to retail clients next month, marking a significant step in the country’s adoption of regulated crypto services as the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets framework begins to take effect locally.

From Feb. 16, customers will be able to buy and sell cryptocurrencies through Bolero, KBC’s online investment platform, using the bank’s own custodial infrastructure. The lender said the offering is designed for self-directed investors and will operate within what it describes as a fully regulated environment.

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According to KBC, the move positions it as the first Belgian bank to bring crypto trading to retail clients under the MiCA regime, reflecting a broader trend among European banks to integrate digital assets into traditional investment platforms.

KBC Bank’s European public affairs adviser Michaël Cloots shared the bank’s crypto trading news in a LinkedIn post on Thursday. Source: Michaël Cloots

KBC moves ahead as MiCA approvals remain pending

KBC said it has submitted a full crypto asset service provider notification to the relevant authorities, asserting that its crypto services meet MiCA requirements. Erik Luts, KBC Group’s chief innovation officer, said the launch is intended to make digital asset investing more accessible while maintaining regulatory safeguards.

The bank first outlined plans to add Bitcoin and Ether trading to Bolero in mid-2025, with approval initially expected by the end of the year. While KBC has now confirmed a launch date, Belgium has yet to formally issue any MiCA licenses, according to the public register maintained by the European Securities and Markets Authority.

KBC did not specify which domestic regulator it has coordinated with. Under Belgium’s framework, oversight of crypto asset markets is split between the Financial Services and Markets Authority and the National Bank of Belgium.

Belgium finalizes MiCA rollout amid EU regulatory debate

MiCA entered into force across the EU in late 2025, but Belgium only finalized its national implementing legislation in December. The law became effective on Jan. 3, 2026, following publication in the Belgian Official Gazette, formally bringing the country into alignment with the bloc’s new crypto rules.

Belgium’s delayed rollout comes as European policymakers continue to debate how MiCA should be enforced in practice. A key point of contention is whether oversight should remain at the national level or be centralized under ESMA, and whether licenses granted in one member state should automatically be passported across the EU.

France has been among the more vocal critics of broad passporting, warning that firms could seek approval in jurisdictions with looser standards. Malta and other smaller states have pushed back, arguing that excessive centralization could harm competitiveness and innovation within the EU’s digital asset sector.

Against this backdrop, KBC’s decision to proceed highlights how banks are navigating regulatory uncertainty while positioning themselves for growing retail demand for crypto exposure within a regulated framework.