EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is KBC licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
KBC's European entity (KBC Bank NV) is recorded as an authorised Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, with its authorisation issued by Belgium on .
Verdict: KBC appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | KBC Bank NV |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | Belgium |
| National Competent Authority | |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | 6B2PBRV1FCJDMR45RZ53 |
| Authorised services | Custody, Order execution, Transfer services |
Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
About KBC
KBC is not a consumer crypto exchange but an integrated bank-insurance group headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, serving retail, private banking, SME and mid-cap clients with Belgium, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria as its core markets. The contracting legal entity for crypto-asset activity is KBC Bank NV, part of KBC Group. According to KBC, it is the first Belgian bank to offer regulated crypto trading within a banking framework, with spot buying and selling of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) offered on an execution-only basis through its Bolero online investment platform, settled in EUR via the bank's standard infrastructure. Sources: KBC corporate site, KBC Newsroom
KBC reports that the service is a closed-loop offering with no transfer of crypto-assets to external wallets, and that the bank provides crypto-asset custody internally while retaining sole private key access. KBC states it uses Crypto Finance AG (Deutsche Borse Group) as institutional trading counterparty and Taurus as custody partner. Per the available research, KBC does not offer savings, staking, recurring-buy or crypto-card products. Sources: Taurus blog, KBC custody policy
On the legal point, the ESMA-listed MiCA services associated with this entity are custody, order execution and transfer services, which would cover the safekeeping, trade-execution and transfer functions described above but not, for example, exchange of crypto-assets for funds as principal, placing, advice or portfolio management. The available research indicates that as of mid-January 2026 KBC had submitted a full crypto-asset service provider notification to the competent Belgian regulator under MiCA but that a full MiCA authorisation had not yet been issued during the transitional phase. The research is not internally consistent on which Belgian authority is competent (the National Bank of Belgium and the FSMA are both referenced), so both the responsible regulator and the precise licence status should be confirmed against the official register before relying on them. Sources: Yahoo Finance, KBC Brussels crypto page
Which crypto services is KBC authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Belgium, KBC (KBC Bank NV) is approved to provide the following services to EEA residents. Each service is defined in Article 3(1)(16) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114.
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Providing custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients
The exchange holds your crypto in its own wallets. Authorisation here means MiCA's segregation and insurance rules apply: client crypto-assets must be ring-fenced from the exchange's own funds.
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Execution of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
The exchange can place orders for you on third-party venues (smart-routing). Less common in retail crypto; relevant for brokerage-style services.
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Providing transfer services for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
The exchange can move crypto between addresses on your behalf, including off-platform withdrawals. The Travel Rule applies to these transfers.
Which services is KBC not authorised to offer?
KBC's MiCA licence does not cover: Trading platform, Exchange for funds, Exchange for crypto, Placing, Order R&T, Advice, Portfolio mgmt. These services may still be offered by other authorised providers, or by KBC under a different regulatory framework (for example, derivatives may fall under MiFID II rather than MiCA). Source: ESMA Register, retrieved 30 June 2026.
See other MiCA-authorised exchanges by service:
What does this mean for users of KBC in the EU?
If you transact through KBC's EEA-authorised entity (KBC Bank NV), the protections introduced by MiCA apply to your relationship from onwards. In practical terms this means: client crypto-assets are ring-fenced from the exchange's own funds (Article 70 MiCA), the authorised entity holds prudential capital, has formal complaint-handling procedures, and is subject to transparency obligations on fees and order execution. Source: Regulation (EU) 2023/1114.
One thing to verify yourself: the legal entity you contract with day-to-day must match the entity in the ESMA register. Some global exchanges operate multiple legal entities under one brand. Confirm in KBC's terms of service that your contracting entity is KBC Bank NV, not a non-EEA affiliate.
Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to KBC?
Three MiCA-authorised providers to consider. Drawn from the ESMA register, never paid placement.
| Provider | Home Member State | Authorised | Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaric Securities | Bulgaria | 9 services | |
| OKX | Malta | 9 services | |
| Kraken | Ireland | 8 services |
Related reading
Understand the regulatory context behind KBC's entry on the register:
Frequently asked questions about KBC and MiCA
Is KBC licensed under MiCA?
Yes. KBC appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised Crypto-Asset Service Providers, with its authorisation issued by the competent authority of Belgium.
Which EU countries can KBC serve under this licence?
A MiCA authorisation in one EEA member state permits passporting across all EEA member states, subject to a notification process to each host-state regulator.
Are my crypto-assets on KBC protected under MiCA?
MiCA introduces ring-fencing of client crypto-assets, prudential capital requirements for the authorised entity, complaint-handling obligations, and conduct rules. It does not provide a deposit-guarantee scheme equivalent to bank deposit insurance.
What's the difference between the authorised entity and the global brand?
Some global exchanges operate multiple legal entities. The MiCA authorisation applies only to the specific legal entity in the ESMA register, not to the global brand. Verify the contracting entity in KBC's terms of service.
Where can I check the official record?
The ESMA register publishes the authoritative list and updates it weekly. The direct link to KBC's entry is on this page under 'Sources'.
Sources
This page is updated weekly. Last verified . If you believe any information on this page is inaccurate, write to our contact page.