Brussels/Frankfurt, February 16, 2026 – KBC Bank is launching regulated crypto trading services for its clients via Bolero, KBC’s online investment platform, marking an important step in the evolution of digital investing in Belgium. With this move, KBC becomes the first bank in Belgium – and among the first banks in Europe – to provide retail investors access to crypto assets within a regulated European framework, combining innovation with a strong focus on trust, security and investor protection.
The new service enables clients to trade selected crypto assets within a trusted banking environment that adheres to strict regulatory and operational standards. By integrating crypto assets into its existing digital investment ecosystem, KBC continues its strategy of responsible innovation, expanding investment opportunities while maintaining the protection and reliability clients expect from a leading European bank.
To support the crypto trading component, KBC has partnered with Crypto Finance, part of Deutsche Börse Group. Crypto Finance provides institutional-grade trading services, acting as principal trading counterparty and ensuring reliable execution and access to liquidity across market conditions.
The services are delivered in line with the European Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR), enabling crypto trading to be provided in a regulated and compliant manner. Crypto Finance brings extensive experience in supporting banks and financial institutions across Europe in integrating crypto trading into their platforms and governance frameworks. As part of Deutsche Börse Group, Crypto Finance provides additional stability and regulatory expertise for institutional partnerships. The collaboration demonstrates how established financial institutions and specialized digital asset providers can jointly deliver innovative yet well-regulated investment solutions to clients in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.
Erik Luts, Chief Innovation Officer at KBC Group, said: “With this launch, we are making innovation concrete for our clients by providing access to crypto assets within a regulated and trusted framework. Trust is a key element of our approach, and by working with Crypto Finance as our trading partner, we rely on an experienced and regulated provider that meets the high standards we apply across our investment services.”
Stijn Vander Straeten, CEO of Crypto Finance Group, said: “Our collaboration with KBC showcases how banks can confidently extend their offering into digital assets through fully integrated, institutional-grade crypto services delivered in a compliant framework and backed by Crypto Finance’s European market expertise.”
About KBC Group
KBC is one of the leading financial groups in Europe. It is an integrated bank-insurance group catering mainly for retail and private banking, SMEs and midcap clients. Its core markets are Belgium, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia. The KBC group has also selectively established a presence in a number of other countries and regions around the world.
KBC Group employs around 40 000 staff and caters for about 13 million clients in its core markets. KBC Group NV is listed on Euronext Brussels (ticker symbol ‘KBC’).
About Crypto Finance Group
Crypto Finance Group, part of Deutsche Börse Group, provides professional digital asset solutions to in-stitutional clients. The Group comprises Crypto Finance AG, regulated by FINMA in Switzerland, offering trading, custody, and wallet services, as well as Crypto Finance (Deutschland) GmbH, regulated by BaFin in Germany, offering trading and custody services. Crypto Finance AG is a SIX-approved crypto custodian for ETP issuers. In early 2025, Crypto Finance became one of the first companies in the EU to receive a MiCAR license for the European market
For further information, please visit: www.crypto-finance.com
Media contact
Crypto Finance |
Read more News here