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KBC Bank to Launch Bitcoin and Ether Access for Retail Clients via Bolero
Belgium’s largest financial institution, KBC Bank, has announced plans to introduce retail crypto access for Bitcoin and Ether through its Bolero platform. The launch depends on the bank receiving regulatory approval, expected in autumn 2025.
Once approved, the bank will allow clients to invest in cryptocurrency under a regulated framework focused on security and education. This move would make KBC Bank the first major Belgian bank to directly support cryptocurrency investments for retail users. Currently, most Belgians use foreign exchanges or investment apps.
The Bolero platform, owned by KBC Bank, will integrate Bitcoin and Ether into its existing investment interface. Users will be able to manage digital assets alongside their traditional investments without relying on third-party exchanges. The new crypto access will utilize the same Bolero structure already familiar to existing clients. Security and regulatory compliance remain core to the offering.
The platform is expected to include risk guidance and protection tools, ensuring that users make informed decisions about their investments. It’s worth noting that KBC Bank would be providing this service via its internal infrastructure, which will manage crypto assets in line with EU and Belgian law.
KBC Bank’s move could lead Belgium into the institutional crypto market, as the country prepares to implement the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. This development is part of a growing trend within Europe, where financial institutions are increasingly exploring regulated digital assets.
Notably, Deutsche Bank and Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe in Germany have already announced similar plans for their own clients. Additionally, Spain’s BBVA has been advising high-net-worth clients to allocate up to 7% of their portfolios into Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
The bank will provide further updates once its CASP registration is granted, pending which the service remains unavailable for retail clients.
Source: coinchapter.com
