KBC Bank will offer Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) trading to Belgian retail clients through its Bolero platform in the week of February 16, 2026.
The initial rollout will allow KBC clients to buy and sell BTC and ETH only, routed through Bolero. KBC has structured the product as an execution-only service: the bank will not provide investment advice and clients must pass a mandatory risk assessment before trading.
To limit operational and compliance exposures, KBC will custody assets inside a controlled ecosystem that prevents transfers to external wallets or other exchanges.
The service is designed to operate under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework and targets investors seeking a regulated, bank-custodied route into crypto.
Regulatory status and controls
MiCA became fully applicable on December 30, 2024, creating a harmonized EU regime for crypto-asset service providers. KBC has submitted a notification to the relevant authorities to operate as a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) under MiCA and is positioning the product to meet those standards.
“KBC says it has submitted a full crypto asset service provider notification to the relevant authorities and considers itself compliant with MiCA requirements,” the bank said. Belgian authorities had not issued formal MiCA licences at the time of the notification, so KBC will proceed under its submitted notification while awaiting formal authorization.
For investors and compliance teams, the offering trades off broader on-chain utility for bank-grade controls: lower transfer risk and tighter AML/KYC controls, but no access to self-custody, DeFi, or external marketplaces. Product teams should note the execution-only structure limits advisory liability but raises the importance of the mandated risk assessment and client onboarding controls.
Investors are likely to monitor the week of February 16, 2026 for execution details and liquidity conditions once trading opens, while compliance teams will watch for the outcome of KBC’s CASP notification and any clarifications from Belgian supervisors about license timing and permitted operational models under MiCA.
