Set Up a Cryptocurrency Company in Belgium

Since the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) applies, crypto-asset service providers in Belgium need a CASP authorisation from the FSMA (the transitional regime for providers registered under the former national rules ended on 30 June 2026), and companies engaged in certain types of cryptocurrency activities (as detailed below) will be required to register for this purpose.

Cryptocurrency companies are gaining more popularity, along with the growing financial services and financial technology industry.

Belgium applies the EU MiCA Regulation (implemented by the Belgian law of 11 December 2025), and the FSMA (or, for certain supervised institutions, the National Bank of Belgium) exercises a certain level of control over these currencies. 

In order to set up a company in Belgium in the cryptocurrency sector, investors need to observe the local incorporation laws but also the provisions of the local tax and financial regulatory authorities.

Our company registration agents in Belgium can help you open a cryptocurrency company.

How to open a cryptocurrency company in Belgium

In order to open a company in Belgium that deals in cryptocurrency or uses blockchain, investors will need to follow the basic incorporation and registration steps.

There are several types of companies that may be opened by foreign investors in Belgium and full foreign ownership is permitted in the country. All companies are registered with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises. Once the company receives its number it will also be used as a VAT number.

One of Belgian company formation agents can help you with detailed information on the incorporation process and the start-up costs. 

The crypto license in Belgium

As previously mentioned, under MiCA, crypto-asset service providers must obtain a CASP authorisation from the FSMA after registration with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises.

Before MiCA, the closest equivalent of a crypto license was the registration with the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) for companies that engage in crypto exchange services or custodial wallet services.

The following conditions must be met cumulatively and permanently by companies in Belgium under that former national regime (Royal Decree of 8 February 2022, superseded by MiCA; transitional period ended 30 June 2026) to remain registered as a virtual currency services provider:

1. Company type: the service provider can only be incorporated in the form of a corporation (not a partnership or sole trader); this can be a public limited company, cooperative society or European company;
2. Capital: the company must have a minimum capital of EUR 50,000 which needs to be fully paid up;
3. Registered office: this must be located in Belgium. Providers registered in another Member State who set up a permanent establishment (other than a branch) in Belgium must also have a central point of contact located in Belgium;
4. Management: the individuals appointed as managers can only be natural persons who have appropriate expertise and professional integrity;
5. Shareholders: information regarding the shareholders, as well as the individuals who exercise control over the cryptocurrency company is provided to the FSMA;
6. Money laundering: the company must comply with the provisions of the law on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing;
7. Organization: the company must maintain a robust organization at all times, allowing it to implement secure IT systems and manage all of the operational risks;
8. Contribution: a company registered for the purpose of offering virtual currency services in Belgium is subject to the payment of operating costs to the FSMA.

As far as the annual contribution to the FSMA are concerned:

• an intermediary pays an annual contribution that includes a basic, annual amount;
• an additional amount of 20% of the basic amount is due by intermediaries in investment services;
• an additional 15% amount of the basic amount is due per person in contact with the public;
• a contribution is due to the general operating costs of the FSMA;
• from collective registrations, from January 1 2021, the maximum costs per intermediation activity are EUR 210,694;
• the annual contribution is calculated on the basis of the situation on January 1^st, each fiscal year.

Our team can explain more about the registration process, which is the equivalent of the crypto license in Belgium.

We invite you to watch the following video on opening a cryptocurrency company:

Documents required for the crypto license in Belgium application

The list below includes the main documents that are provided by cryptocurrency companies that apply for registration with FSMA, which can be seen as the equivalent of a crypto license in Belgium:

1. Documents concerning the applicant: the company’s constitutive documents or the draft constitutive documents if the company is in the process of being registered; the application for registration, proof of minimum capital;
2. Documents concerning the individuals assigned to key positions: criminal record extract, filled in questionnaire for the candidate for a regulated function; the candidate’s CV;
3. Documents concerning the shareholders: the filled-in questionnaire for the shareholders and/or the persons exercising control over the company’
4. Other documents: filled-in questionnaire on compliance with the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, the company’s organizational chart.

The aforementioned questionnaires that are to be filled in by the applicant have a mandatory template and are offered upon request by the FSMA. Other documents may be required.

Investors who wish to apply for registration with FSMA, which can be seen as obtaining a crypto license in Belgium, can reach out to our team for assistance during the application process.

Possible classification of the crypto-assets

As mentioned above, crypto companies need to register with the FSMA to conduct their business operations. This registration can be considered the equivalent of a VASP license in Belgium. However, the FSMA has issued a guideline outlining that crypto-assets might also qualify as securities, financial instruments, or investment instruments depending on their characteristics. This means that companies will need to adhere to other regulations as well. Our Belgian company formation agents will explain this guideline:

• If the crypto-assets are transferable and they give their holder certain rights (such as receiving a portion from the profits/losses, voting in decisions, or receiving payments), they are treated like traditional securities, such as stocks or bonds. In this case, the company issuing them needs to provide detailed information to investors, namely through a prospectus. Our specialists in company formation in Belgium can help in this case;
• Moreover, if the crypto-assets are classified as securities, they can also be considered financial instruments. MiFID (Markets in Financial Instruments Directive) rules apply in this case;
• If the crypto-assets are not transferable but still give their holder certain rights, they are classified as investment instruments. Companies also need to issue a prospectus in this case.

Please note this is only a guideline issued by the FSMA to better help companies understand the Belgian regulations. Our specialists in company registration in Belgiumcan provide personalized advice based on your specific business.

Marketing crypto-assets in Belgium

After registering with the FSMA, the equivalent of obtaining a crypto license in Belgium, crypto companies need to understand marketing regulations established by the Authority. In brief, crypto companies must adhere to these marketing regulations:

• Advertisements must present clear, accurate, and non-misleading information regarding their products to prevent consumer deception;
• Advertisers must include warnings in their promotional materials to highlight to the consumer the potential risks of their products/services;
• Companies must notify the FSMA in advance if they plan to conduct mass advertising campaigns related to virtual currencies.

In addition to crypto companies, marketing agencies, influencers, or brokers must also respect these provisions. 

Please note these regulations do not apply to advertising for crypto-assets classified as financial or investment instruments because they are already subject to other regulatory frameworks. The provisions also apply only if the advertisements are targeted at Belgian consumers.

Our agents will explain more about the marketing of crypto-assets when you open a company in Belgium.

Why open a cryptocurrency company in Belgium

Virtual currencies are known as cryptocurrencies because of the cryptography they use for security. This provides them with a significant security feature and makes them difficult to counterfeit.

Moreover, a feature that is appealing to many investors is that a state central authority does not issue this currency and it is thus invulnerable to Government manipulation. 

Cryptocurrency companies allow individuals to buy, store and deal in virtual currencies.

The most popular one is Bitcoin but other competitors have also emerged since the first one was launched in 2009. Bitcoin Exchange platforms have also been developed and they act much like a traditional stock exchange.

Investors who want to open a cryptocurrency company in Belgium can ask one of our company formation experts in Belgium for more information on specific issues such as the smallest cryptocurrency units or the digital copy as one of the security features available on these platforms.

5 cryptocurrency business ideas in Belgium

Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies which are safe to use because they are based on cryptography and are not subject to counterfeit like regular banknotes. Another important feature is that it is not issued by any authority.

Cryptocurrencies are becoming more popular and so is their use and reachability.  Buying and selling Bitcoin and other types of virtual currencies remains one of the main activities in the field, however, entrepreneurs can explore other options. We remind you that in order to operate legally, cryptocurrency businesses need to register with the FSMA, which can be seen as the equivalent of the crypto license in Belgium.

Below are a set of 5 cryptocurrency business ideas in Belgium for investors who want to open a Belgian company:

1. Open a cryptocurrency exchange: a basic service that allows for cash/digital currency changes;
2. Open a cryptocurrency trading platform: a type of stock exchange designed for cryptocurrencies;
3. Blockchain development services: software engineering and development services for blockchain technology;
4. Digital wallet company: a mobile or digital wallet services that allows for much more than cryptocurrency payments;
5. Cryptocurrency ATM: like an ATM for traditional money, used by individuals who wish to quickly purchase cryptocurrency divisions;

1. Open a cryptocurrency exchange

This is simply the monetization of the fact that normal currencies are converted into Bitcoin and other types of virtual coins. Entrepreneurs can set up the platform that will allow investors and individuals alike to convert money into digital currencies.

2. Open a cryptocurrency trading platform

This option means that entrepreneurs will start a new platform that will engage in cryptocurrency trading activities. In most respects, this platform will be similar to a traditional stock exchange.

3. Blockchain development services

Blockchain is the technology behind cryptocurrencies and it was created for the purpose of conceiving the Bitcoin. Now, there are many more applications for this type of technology and investors in Belgium can help clients with blockchain development, including software and digital services

4. Digital wallet company

Software companies can work on developing digital wallets – essentially an e-payment system that can be adapted for multiple purposes and can include Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency payments. We can help investors open this type of company and register with the FSMA. This is a mandatory step and can be seen as the equivalent of obtaining a crypto license in Belgium.

5. Set up a cryptocurrency ATM

A cryptocurrency ATM or BTM, as it’s also called, will essentially mean that the investor will need to have the available capital and to set up an actual machine that will allow individual clients to insert cash and purchase small cryptocurrency denominations. 

Taxation of crypto-assets in Belgium

Our team can help crypto companies obtain their VASP license in Belgium, which actually refers to registering with the FSMA. In addition, we can also help with the taxation of crypto-assets. We will briefly present some of the key considerations regarding the tax implications of crypto transactions:

• Individuals can pay a capital gains tax on speculative profits at a flat rate of 33%;
• Individuals can also pay progressive income tax rates between 25% and 50% if their activities are deemed professional (such as crypto mining);
• Since 1 January 2026, gains of individuals who qualify as prudent investors (“bon père de famille”) are subject to the new 10% capital gains tax on financial assets, with an annual exemption of EUR 10,000;
• Crypto companies must pay the standard 25% corporate income tax rate.

Our company formation agents can also help you if you need other corporate services, such as VAT registration in Belgium or trademark registration services.

We can help those interested apply for registration with the FSMA, the equivalent of the crypto license in Belgium. Entrepreneurs who would like to know more about how to open a company in Belgium and start their business can contact us for personalized assistance.