Belgium’s KBC Bank Set to Unleash Bitcoin and Ether Trading for Retail – Will Rivals Follow?

KBC Bank is preparing to offer cryptocurrency trading to its retail clients, making it the first major bank in Belgium to move into the space. The bank plans to offer Bitcoin and Ether investments through its Bolero investment platform later this year.

According to a local source, KBC said it is currently undergoing an assessment to obtain recognition as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP). The process is expected to conclude by autumn.

KBC Pushes Into Crypto as European Banks Catch Up to Investor Demand

A KBC spokesperson said the platform would offer retail investors access to Bitcoin and Ether “within a trusted framework, with a focus on education, security, and regulatory compliance.”

Bolero, the bank’s online investment arm, will host the crypto offerings. If approved by regulators, the rollout could begin by the end of 2025. This would place KBC ahead of its domestic rivals in the retail crypto market.

Belgian customers currently rely on foreign exchanges such as Binance, Coinbase, and OKX to access crypto. Others turn to digital banking apps like Revolut and N26, which have integrated crypto services in recent years.

The move by KBC comes amid a broader shift among European banks toward digital asset integration.

A recent study by Bitpanda found that while over 40% of business investors in Europe already hold cryptocurrencies, only 19% of financial institutions believe there is strong demand. The report pointed to a gap between investor behavior and the perception among banks.

Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, Bitpanda’s deputy CEO, said, “Financial institutions in Europe know that crypto is here to stay, but most are still not offering services that match investor demand.”

Despite the hesitation, some banks are beginning to take notice. The same survey found that 18% of institutions plan to expand their crypto-related offerings, particularly in areas like transfers and trading.

A separate report from Coincub earlier this year found that over 60 banks in Europe currently offer some form of crypto service. Institutions like BBVA Switzerland, Standard Chartered, and Barclays have all deepened their crypto involvement.

While the bank has emphasized a cautious and regulated approach, it appears to be responding to growing interest from retail clients.

If the CASP registration is secured, KBC will join a small but growing group of European banks bringing crypto trading into their core platforms. The final decision is expected in the fall, and all eyes will be on how other banks in the region respond.

Europe’s Regulatory Shift Sparks Wave of Bank-Backed Bitcoin Services

KBC Bank’s entry into retail crypto trading could mark the beginning of a broader trend across Europe, as traditional financial institutions ramp up their digital asset services under the European Union’s newly implemented MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation.

MiCA, which came into force in 2024, has set unified standards for crypto operations across the European Economic Area (EEA). In just the first half of 2025, major crypto exchanges like OKX, Coinbase, Bybit, and Crypto.com secured licenses under the framework.

The result is a more competitive, regulated European crypto market and increasing pressure on legacy banks to follow suit.

Several of Europe’s largest financial players are already responding. Germany’s Deutsche Bank is reportedly preparing to launch a crypto custody service in 2026, collaborating with Austrian exchange Bitpanda and tech firm Taurus, which Deutsche Bank has backed.

Meanwhile, Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, Germany’s largest banking group with 50 million customers, plans to allow direct Bitcoin and Ether trading via its mobile app by summer 2026.

The offering will be managed by Dekabank and is set to operate under MiCA’s regulatory umbrella. The group describes it as “reliable access to a regulated crypto offering.”

In Spain, BBVA has already been advising its affluent clients to allocate a portion of their portfolios—up to 7%—to Bitcoin and other digital assets.

As European regulators prepare further guidance, including clarifying rules for cross-border stablecoin use, MiCA appears to be positioning the EU as a global leader in crypto oversight.

For banks like KBC, the clarity may not just offer regulatory cover but also unlock long-term opportunity in digital finance.

Whether rivals follow will likely depend on how quickly they can adapt to MiCA’s evolving standards.

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