Explanation
The FSMA maintains a register of authorised providers and actively warns about fraudulent platforms. Advertising crypto products in Belgium must meet strict rules, including mandatory risk warnings.
The FSMA's role
The Financial Services and Markets Authority is Belgium's supervisor of financial products, investment services and, since MiCA, crypto service providers. It grants licences, polices advertising, publishes warning lists of fraudulent platforms and can ban services.
What you can do with it
Two things are worth doing for every Belgian investor: check the warning list before depositing money anywhere, and file a complaint when a provider does not respond. The FSMA does not award individual compensation, but reports do lead to investigations and publications that protect others.
Advertising rules
Since 2023 Belgium applies strict rules to crypto advertising: mandatory warnings, no misleading return promises and a notification duty for mass campaigns. Influencer promotion without clearly disclosing its commercial nature is a breach.
Key takeaways
- Consult the warning list before depositing.
- Complaints can be filed free and online.
- Strict rules for advertising and influencers.
Frequently asked questions
+Will the FSMA get my money back?
Rarely. The FSMA supervises and sanctions; repayment runs through the courts or, in fraud cases, a criminal complaint.