Belgian financial circles are taking action. The country's second-largest bank, KBC Group, has decided to launch Bitcoin and Ethereum trading services on its retail investment platform Bolero, becoming the first local bank to venture into this space.

The timetable is set—launch is scheduled for the week of February 16. This is not a casual move; KBC has completed the full regulatory process, submitted a formal notification to the relevant authorities as a crypto asset service provider, and is operating entirely within the EU MiCA regulatory framework.

The trading model is quite conservative. It adopts a "execution-only" approach, meaning the platform does not provide investment advice; customers must make their own decisions. Additionally, a risk test must be passed before trading to confirm that users truly understand what they are doing. This is to protect retail users.

Security measures have also been extensively implemented. The platform uses a "closed-loop" model—customer assets can only circulate within Bolero. Transferring out to a wallet or other exchanges? Not allowed. All assets are also custodyed by the bank itself. This approach effectively prevents fraud and money laundering risks.

To some extent, this reflects a quiet shift in traditional financial institutions' attitude towards crypto assets. They are not fully embracing it, but they are no longer avoiding it either. Under a clear compliance framework, major banks are willing to provide retail investors with legitimate channels.