Belgium’s KBC Bank Opens Ethereum, Bitcoin Trading to Everyday Clients

Ben Graham · 7 horas atrás

Bitcoin and crypto trading rapidly shifted after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in 2024. Now, not only are retailers watching, but the big boys are behind the scenes, dictating direction.

As traders jostle to get in on time, buying the next 100X cryptos, bankers in Europe are ready to get in. Earlier this week, KBC, which is the second-largest bank in Belgium, said it will offer Bitcoin and Ethereum trading to everyday retail clients.

KBC becomes the first Belgian bank to offer the purchase and sale of Bitcoin via Bolero.

This initiative marks a new step in the integration of Bitcoin into traditional financial markets and in its gradual recognition as an investment asset.

Bitcoin Law pic.twitter.com/MOmT7e7Fwr

— Florence Hum₿let (@HumbletFlorence) January 15, 2026

The Bitcoin price held steady above $95,000 following the news. Meanwhile, Ethereum is firm, inching closer to $3,500, a key resistance level. For ETH USDT bulls watching price action after this announcement, their bias has only been strengthened.

DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in 2026

What exactly did KBC announce?

That some of the best cryptos to buy, primarily Bitcoin and Ethereum, held their ground after the news broke is an indicator that demand is steady. The Bitcoin price didn’t shoot higher, suggesting that developments in Europe are also being tracked and could determine the pace of the next uptrend.

Specifically, KBC said it will let retail customers buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum directly through its investment platform, Bolero. This is a massive step for the “normalization” of crypto in Europe, as it moves digital assets out of specialized exchanges and directly into the primary banking apps of everyday citizens. Effectively, the bank is lifting crypto, deemed volatile and risky, next to stocks and ETFs, making them available in the same banking app many Belgians already use.

This matters because most Belgian investors had to rely on foreign crypto exchanges like Coinbase or Binance before. Based on their data, +45% of Belgians in their 30s already invest in crypto. What’s more? +60% of Bolero’s users are under the age of 40. Looking at this younger active base, it was also expected that “Bitcoin” has consistently been one of the most searched terms on their investment platform.

Still, KBC is taking a very cautious, bank-style approach to security. Users can only buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum within the Bolero platform without withdrawing or receiving coins from external accounts. KBC handles the “private keys”, which are typically used for confirming coin ownership. For this reason, users who buy coins through Bolero don’t have total “sovereign” control. In platforms like Coinbase, anyone can buy BTC or ETH, including top Solana meme coins, and send them to external wallets without any restrictions.

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Compliance With MiCA, European Banks Setting The Standard?

KBC has been preparing this rollout since mid-2025 to comply with MiCA, the EU’s new crypto rulebook. MiCA is like a driver’s license for crypto firms in Europe. The framework sets rules for custody, consumer protection, and reporting. Before MiCA, banks were terrified of the “legal gray area” of crypto. By following these rules, KBC can offer crypto services with the same legal standing as selling stocks or bonds.

German institutions like DZ Bank have already moved in the same direction, which we covered in our piece on German banks offering crypto. DZ Bank, which is one of the largest in the European economic powerhouse, launched its “meinKrypto” platform for over 700 cooperative banks. This gives millions of everyday Germans access to Bitcoin via their local bank apps. In France, BPCE Group has begun a phased rollout to 2M customers, allowing them to buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana directly.

France’s 3rd biggest bank, BPCE, now lets customers trade $BTC, $ETH, $SOL & $USDC.

A clear sign that the old financial world is shifting toward crypto. pic.twitter.com/BvYmhAG7lb

— Lucky (@LLuciano_BTC) December 7, 2025

The difference between these offerings and KBC’s is scale. KBC serves millions of retail customers. That scale matters because it normalizes crypto. When banks add Bitcoin next to traditional assets, crypto stops feeling like a fringe hobby and starts looking like a standard investment choice. It also pressures rivals. Belgian banks like Belfius and BNP Paribas Fortis now face a simple question from customers: “Why can KBC do this, but you can’t?”

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