An Important Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) Step Has Arrived from One of Belgium's Largest Banks!

Belgium's leading financial institution KBC is preparing to offer individual clients the opportunity to buy out Bitcoin (BTC) and buy out Ethereum (ETH) through its investment platform Bolero starting this fall. This step marks a first for a major Belgian bank.

According to the announcement made by KBC, the analysis phase of the necessary regulatory process to gain official recognition as a crypto asset service provider is currently ongoing. The bank expects this process to be completed by autumn and for the approval to be obtained. With the approval, individual investors will be able to directly acquire BTC and ETH through KBC's secure platform. The bank emphasizes that special attention will be given to user training, security, and legal compliance.

This move positions KBC as the first major Belgian bank to announce concrete plans for providing cryptocurrency services. Until now, Belgian investors have generally had to turn to foreign platforms like Binance, Coinbase, and OKX, or digital banks like Revolut and N26 for cryptocurrency investments.

Other major Belgian banks are exhibiting a cautious approach. Belfius states that it is exploring how to adapt to the crypto market through its investment platform Re=bel. ING Belgium expresses that it has examined the matter "very carefully," while BNP Paribas Fortis announced that it has no plans to offer any services related to crypto.

Major banks in Europe had stayed away from the sector for a long time due to regulatory uncertainty, money laundering risks, and the high volatility of crypto assets. However, with the coming into force of the EU's MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) legislation regulating crypto asset markets, the situation has changed as banks no longer need comprehensive new licenses to enter the digital asset space.

A similar development occurred in Germany. This week, regional German banks known as Sparkassen announced that individual customers will be able to buy out and sell BTC and ETH through a mobile application starting in 2026. Spain's second-largest bank, BBVA, also announced last March that it had developed a product focused on crypto investments.

According to industry experts, the intense interest in cryptocurrencies is forcing banks to take steps 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 are investing in cryptocurrencies. This rate rises to 45% in the 30s age group.