KBC, one of Belgium’s leading financial institutions, is preparing to offer individual clients the opportunity to purchase Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) through its investment platform Bolero starting this fall. This move is a first for a major Belgian bank. According to a statement from KBC, the regulatory process required to gain official recognition as a crypto asset service provider is currently under analysis. The bank expects this process to be completed and approval to be received by the fall. Once approved, individual investors will be able to purchase BTC and ETH directly through KBC’s secure platform. The bank states that special attention will be paid to user education, security and legal compliance. The move makes KBC the first major Belgian bank to announce concrete plans to offer cryptocurrency services. Until now, Belgian investors have generally had to turn to foreign platforms such as Binance, Coinbase and OKX, or digital banks such as Revolut and N26 for their crypto investments. Related News: How Much U.S. President Donald Trump Has Earned from Cryptocurrency Ventures Revealed - Here Are the Hard-to-Believe Number Other major Belgian banks are taking a cautious approach. Belfius says it is exploring how to adapt to the crypto market through its investment platform Re=bel. ING Belgium says it is examining the issue “very carefully,” while BNP Paribas Fortis says it has no plans to offer any crypto-related services. Large banks in Europe have long shied away from the sector due to regulatory uncertainty, money laundering risks, and the high volatility of crypto assets. However, the introduction of the European Union’s MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation regulating crypto asset markets has changed the situation as banks no longer need extensive new licenses to enter the digital asset space. A similar development took place in Germany. This week, regional German banks known as Sparkassen announced that individual customers will be able to buy and sell BTC and ETH via mobile apps starting in 2026. Spain’s second-largest bank, BBVA, also announced last March that it was developing a product for crypto investments. According to industry experts, the intense interest in cryptocurrencies is forcing banks to take action in this area. According to a recent study published by the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA), 43% of Belgian investors under the age of 29 invest in cryptocurrencies. This rate increases to 45% in the 30s. *This is not investment advice. Continue Reading: One of Belgium’s Largest Banks Takes Important Step with Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH)
