8 Best Crypto Exchanges to Buy Bitcoin in Belgium 2024

Is it Legal to Buy Cryptocurrency in Belgium?

One of the first questions that newcomers to cryptocurrency have is about the legality of the entire crypto asset class ecosystem. While it’s true that some countries have implemented heavy restrictions on the use of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, the reality is this technology is generally legal to use in free nations around the world—and that includes Belgium. In fact, Bitcoin is not subject to Value Added Taxes (VAT) in Belgium.

While there is a lot of noise in the media regarding the use of Bitcoin in illicit, criminal activities, the reality is that the average person on the street can still use this digital asset as a medium of exchange. For now, financial regulators in Belgium are mostly interested in tracking cryptocurrencies at the entry and exit points of the networks, which mainly means they are interested in the exchanges. This is why new users must hand over a large amount of personal information when they use one of these platforms in Belgium. However, it should be noted that this is the case for nearly all jurisdictions around the world.

Is Crypto Taxed in Belgium?

Yes. Crypto is taxed in Belgium.

The tax laws relating to crypto in Belgium are actually somewhat complicated so it might be worth getting an accountant if you have a large sum of crypto assets.

In short, crypto is taxed differently depending on:

1. You trade crypto for a living.
2. You are a high-risk investor.
3. You are a regular investor.

If you trade crypto for a living then that will generally be taxed at the highest rate (anywhere from 25-50%). Meanwhile if you’re a high-risk investor you will likely be taxed at 33%. Meanwhile regular crypto investors can be tax exempt in certain situations.

Keep in mind these laws are frequently changing and CryptoVantage does not provide tax or financial advice so be sure to seek professional help for your tax issues.

How Easy is It to Buy Bitcoin in Belgium?

Buying Bitcoin in Belgium is extremely simple, as many of the major exchanges are able to operate in this country. Well-known exchange platforms, such as Coinbase and Coinmama, make it as easy as possible for anyone in Belgium to gain access to their first Bitcoin, and altcoins are easy to access as well. Well-established trading platforms for more advanced users, such as Bitstamp and Kraken, are also available.

There’s nothing wrong with using an exchange with a slick user interface to gain access to the crypto economy for the first time, but consumers should remember that these sorts of platforms for newcomers tend to come with higher fees.

Buying Bitcoin in Belgium at an ATM

Belgium actually has a decent amount of Bitcoin ATMs available and that can be an easy way for people to buy crypto without having to sign-up for an exchange.

It should be noted, however, that crypto exchanges tend to have far lower fees for buying crypto than Bitcoin ATMs so if you’re at all serious about purchasing a decent amount of crypto that you should probably just bite the bullet and sign-up for an exchange. Even better, get yourself a wallet and transfer your crypto off an exchange once you’ve acquired it.

Check out where you can find Bitcoin ATMs in Belgium.

Whats the Best Cryptocurrency Exchange to Use in Belgium?

If you’re going to purchase cryptocurrency in Belgium, then you’ll want to find a platform that has a nice balance between usability and cost. If you’re not too concerned about handing your personal information over to a third party, then the best options in Belgium are going to be one of the established, centralized platforms that allow you to connect your bank account and gain access to global liquidity. In the case of Belgium, Kraken is the perfect exchange to choose due to the liquidity it offers on EUR trading pairs. Kraken’s fees are also extremely competitive on a global scale, and users are able to use a simplified trading interface that isn’t much harder to figure out than simply clicking a big button that says “Buy Bitcoin”.

While Kraken has features that are useful for newcomers, it’s still a platform that is mostly focused on more advanced cryptocurrency traders. A second option for an exchange with an easy to use interface is Bitpanda. Its intuitive design makes it extremely easy to navigate for crypto newcomers.

What is the Best Altcoin Exchange in Belgium?

If you’re already using Kraken for your Bitcoin purchases, then you’ll notice that there are a large number of altcoins available for trade on the platform as well.

For most cryptocurrency users, it’s likely that Kraken will have all of the coins or tokens that the user wishes to trade. However, Binance is an alternative option if you want to get into some of the more niche offerings on the market. Additionally, Binance is an attractive option for privacy-conscious users, as they tend to have lower requirements when it comes to account verification. That said, this limited version of anti-money laundering restrictions are limited to 2 Bitcoin’s worth of activity per day.

What is the Cheapest Way to Buy Bitcoin in Belgium?

While Belgium is known to be a hotbed of Bitcoin ATM activity, the reality is these systems will not give you access to cheap cryptocurrency transaction fees. For low fees, you’ll need to connect your bank account to a global exchange that has plenty of liquidity and is actually registered as a regulated entity. As mentioned previously, the relatively low fees combined with high EUR-based liquidity on Kraken make this platform the cheapest option for buying Bitcoin and most other cryptocurrencies in Belgium.

Bitpanda is the cheapest option when it comes to more user-friendly platforms, and they even have an advanced platform available for more experienced crypto traders in the form of Bitpanda Pro.