Belgium is the strictest of the large EU markets on this pair of questions, and the gap between the two answers is wider here than almost anywhere. Spot crypto itself is legal: MiCA has applied since 30 December 2024, the FSMA runs the crypto-asset framework, and since 1 July 2026 any crypto-asset service provider must hold a MiCA authorisation or stop offering services in Europe - the national transitional regime ran out on 30 June 2026.
Leveraged derivatives are a different matter entirely. Since 18 August 2016 the FSMA Regulation approved by Royal Decree has banned distribution to consumers, over electronic trading platforms, of binary options, sub-one-hour derivatives and leveraged derivatives including CFDs and rolling spot forex - and it sits on top of an earlier ban on distributing financial products whose underlying is a virtual currency.
The contract itself does not change by geography: a ENA perpetual settles in USDC everywhere.
13 venues open Ethena perps to traders in Belgium.
ApeX
Aster
Avantis
gTrade
Helix
Hyperliquid
Lighter
Pacifica
Paradex
Reya
VestFour steps from sign-up to an open position.
Private investors in Belgium pay a 10% tax on capital gains from crypto.
Trading ENA from Belgium: legal.
Regulator for Ethena trading in Belgium: Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA).
For Ethena traders in Belgium: The Law of 18 September 2017 requires obliged organizations in Belgium to implement customer due diligence, including identity verification, to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing, with no exemption from that obligation.
Belgium residents can trade Ethena on 19 platforms, including Aevo, ApeX and Aster.
Canborsa charges 0.07% per side (0.14% round trip) on Ethena.