Belgian bank-insurer KBC Group has teamed up with Swiss fintech firm Taurus SA to provide institutional custody services for its new crypto asset offering, according to a statement on Tuesday.
The partnership allows KBC to deploy Taurus-PROTECT, a bank-grade digital asset custody platform, as the basis for regulated crypto trading through Bolero, KBC’s proprietary investment platform.
The service was launched last month and KBC became the first Belgian bank to offer crypto trading in a fully regulated banking framework.
At launch, retail investors will have access to Bitcoin and Ethereum on an execution-only basis, and transactions will be conducted in accordance with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) framework.
According to Eric Lutz, Chief Innovation Officer at KBC Group, the growing demand for crypto among clients prompted the bank to partner with Taurus. The partnership allows KBC to offer regulated cryptographic services with the same security and strict controls throughout its operations.
“By working with Taurus, we can offer cryptographic services backed by bank-grade storage that provides the same level of security, governance and control that defines our approach across the organization. This partnership allows us to transform regulated crypto trading into a distinct and reliable proposition for our clients,” said Lutz.
KBC built the offering around a closed operating model where cryptocurrency assets purchased through Bolero remain within the platform rather than being transferred to external wallets or exchanges.
This approach eliminates the need for customers to manage private keys and reduces vulnerability to operational, fraud, and security vulnerabilities that have historically governed retail crypto storage.
KBC’s approach underscores the importance of a robust, bank-grade infrastructure for a regulated crypto offering, Lamin Brahimi, co-founder and managing partner of Taurus, noted.
“We are proud to support KBC’s first market initiative in Belgium with Taurus-PROTECT, our institutional custody platform designed specifically for banks,” he said.
The partnership marks the acceleration of institutional crypto adoption across European banking, driven by MiCAR’s impact on competition and regulation.
Traditional lenders that previously shunned digital assets are now facing pressure to offer regulated services as customers increasingly seek independent crypto exchanges through trusted financial institutions.
