KBC taps Taurus for Belgium’s first regulated crypto trade

TLDR

• KBC partnered with Swiss fintech Taurus to support its regulated crypto trading service in Belgium.
• KBC became the first Belgian bank to offer Bitcoin and Ethereum trading within a regulated banking framework.
• The bank integrated Taurus-PROTECT to provide institutional-grade digital asset custody for its Bolero platform.
• Retail clients can trade Bitcoin and Ether on an execution-only basis under the EU MiCAR framework.
• KBC structured the service under a closed model that keeps crypto assets within the Bolero platform.

Major Belgian lender KBC has partnered with Swiss fintech Taurus to power its regulated crypto trading service. The bank will use Taurus-PROTECT to provide institutional custody for digital assets offered through its Bolero platform. The launch makes KBC the first Belgian bank to enable Bitcoin and Ethereum trading within a regulated banking framework.

KBC Group Launches Regulated Bitcoin Trading with Taurus Support

KBC Group confirmed it teamed up with Taurus SA to deploy Taurus-PROTECT for secure digital asset custody. The bank integrated the platform into Bolero, its self-directed investment service, to support regulated crypto trading. The service went live last month and offers retail clients access to Bitcoin on an execution-only basis.

KBC Group structured the offering under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation framework. The bank executes all Bitcoin transactions in compliance with MiCAR requirements and internal governance standards. Erik Luts, Chief Innovation Officer at KBC Group, said growing client demand drove the partnership.

“By working with Taurus, we can offer crypto services supported by banking-grade custody,” Luts said. He added that the bank applies the same security and control standards across its crypto operations. KBC Group confirmed that clients trade Bitcoin directly within Bolero without external transfers.

Ether Access Expands Through Closed Operating Model

KBC Group also introduced Ethereum trading under the same regulated structure. Retail clients can access Ether on an execution-only basis through Bolero. The bank keeps all purchased crypto assets within its closed operating model.

Under this model, clients cannot transfer Bitcoin or Ether to external wallets or exchanges. The structure removes the need for clients to manage private keys themselves. KBC Group said this approach reduces operational and fraud risks linked to retail custody.

Lamine Brahimi, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Taurus, addressed the collaboration. “We are proud to support KBC’s market-first initiative in Belgium with Taurus-PROTECT,” Brahimi said. He stated that Taurus designed the platform specifically for banks seeking institutional-grade custody.

Taurus-PROTECT provides digital asset storage with governance and compliance controls aligned with banking standards. KBC Group confirmed it applies the same oversight procedures used across its broader financial services. The bank said the platform ensures secure storage of both Bitcoin and Ether holdings.

KBC Group stated that all transactions occur within a fully regulated banking environment. The bank said it processes trades through established compliance systems and internal monitoring tools. The service became available to retail investors last month through the Bolero platform.

KBC Group emphasized that clients gain crypto exposure through a trusted banking channel. The bank maintains full custody responsibility for assets held on the platform. The announcement marked the official rollout of regulated Bitcoin and Ether trading in Belgium’s banking sector.

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