Belgian bank-insurer KBC Group has partnered with Swiss fintech firm Taurus SA to offer institutional custody services for its new cryptocurrency offering. This collaboration integrates Taurus-PROTECT, a banking-grade digital asset custody platform, into KBC's self-directed investment platform, Bolero.
Launched last month, KBC is the first Belgian bank to provide regulated crypto trading. Retail investors can now access Bitcoin and Ethereum on an execution-only basis, adhering to the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR).
Erik Luts, Chief Innovation Officer at KBC Group, cited growing client demand as the driver for this partnership. The offering ensures rigorous security and oversight, providing regulated crypto services with banking-grade custody. Crypto assets purchased through Bolero remain within the platform, eliminating the need for clients to manage private keys and reducing security risks.
Lamine Brahimi, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Taurus, highlighted KBC's initiative as a market-first in Belgium, supported by Taurus-PROTECT, an institutional custody platform designed for banks.
The partnership signifies an acceleration in institutional crypto adoption across European banking, influenced by MiCAR's regulatory impact. Traditional banks are increasingly pressured to offer regulated digital asset services as clients seek exposure through trusted financial institutions.