Knowledge hub
Crypto explained
Clear, independent explainers on blockchain, coins, trading, security and tax: written for European readers.
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Basics
What is blockchain?
A clear explanation of blockchain: how it works, why it creates trust without a middleman, and what its real-world risks and uses are.
ReadWhat is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin explained: how it works, why it is scarce, what sets it apart from ordinary money, and the risks buyers should understand.
ReadWhat is Ethereum?
Ethereum explained: how the network works, what smart contracts are, why ether is needed, and the risks users should understand.
ReadWhat is a DEX?
A DEX is a decentralised exchange where you trade straight from your own wallet. How it works, what it costs, and the risks of slippage and fake tokens.
ReadWhat is a liquidity pool?
A liquidity pool is a shared reserve of assets you trade against. How depth, slippage, fees and impermanent loss actually work.
ReadBuy or sell with Block #9
Turn theory into practice: transparent routing, clear fees and self-custody.
Trading
Buying crypto in the Netherlands
How to buy crypto in the Netherlands using euros, iDEAL or SEPA, which providers are MiCA-registered, and what it costs. A practical checklist, not investment advice.
ReadBuying crypto in Belgium
How to buy crypto in Belgium: licensed providers, Bancontact and SEPA, bank blocks, real costs and moving coins to your own wallet.
ReadCrypto swapping explained
How does swapping one crypto for another via a decentralised exchange work? An explanation of routing, liquidity pools and costs, without investment advice.
ReadSlippage and price impact
What is slippage, how does price impact arise with large orders, and how do you set a sensible tolerance? An explanation without investment advice.
ReadSelling crypto to euros
How do you sell crypto back to euros or dollars? An explanation of payout, timing, fees and bank checks, without investment advice.
ReadReading orders and prices
How do you read an order book and price chart, and what is the difference between a limit and a market order? An explanation without investment advice.
ReadBuying bitcoin in Belgium and the Netherlands
How bitcoin purchases work in Belgium and the Netherlands via a MiCA-licensed provider, what KYC means, and the difference between custodial and self-custody storage.
ReadBuying and storing ethereum
How ethereum differs from bitcoin, how to buy it through a regulated provider, and the trade-off between platform custody and your own wallet.
ReadBuying XRP: explained
An explanation of XRP and the Ripple network, how to buy it through a regulated provider, and the custody and tax points to consider.
ReadBuying Solana: explained
What Solana is, how it differs from Ethereum, how to buy and store it, and the tax consequences in Belgium and the Netherlands.
ReadBuying stablecoins: USDC and USDT
How stablecoins like USDC and USDT work, the difference between issuers, how buying and custody work, and the risks that remain.
ReadBuy or sell with Block #9
Turn theory into practice: transparent routing, clear fees and self-custody.
Security
Holding your own crypto
How to set up a self-custody wallet, store a seed phrase safely and decide when a hardware wallet is worth it. Practical guide, not advice.
ReadChoosing and using a hardware wallet
How to choose and set up a hardware wallet to store crypto safely. Selection criteria, setup steps and common mistakes, without product recommendations.
ReadStoring your seed phrase safely
How to store and back up a seed phrase without exposing it to hacks, loss or theft. Practical methods and common mistakes explained.
ReadRecognising phishing and wallet drainers
How to recognise phishing sites, fake messages and wallet drainers targeting crypto users. Practical warning signs and protective steps.
ReadTwo-factor authentication for crypto accounts
Why is 2FA important for crypto accounts, which methods exist and which is safest? A practical explanation without product recommendations.
ReadBankchain — the Block #9 podcast
Every episode unpacks one theme from crypto, banking and European regulation.
Tax
Crypto and tax
Box 3 in the Netherlands, prudent-manager rules in Belgium: how crypto is taxed, which records you need and where professional trading begins.
ReadCrypto tax in Belgium
Normal management, miscellaneous income or professional income? How Belgian crypto taxation works, plus rulings, reporting and record keeping.
ReadDeclaring crypto in Box 3 in the Netherlands
How do you declare crypto in Box 3 of the Dutch income tax return? Reference date, valuation and common mistakes explained. General information, not tax advice.
ReadTax on staking, lending and airdrops
How are staking rewards, lending income and airdrops treated for tax purposes in the Netherlands and Belgium? An overview of the main rules. Not tax advice.
ReadKeeping crypto records
How do you keep good records of your crypto transactions? Exports, cost basis and practical tools for filing taxes. General information, not tax advice.
ReadDeclaring crypto in the Netherlands in 2026
How do you correctly declare crypto to the Dutch Tax Administration in 2026? Reference date, valuation, foreign platforms and forgotten years. Not tax advice.
ReadCrypto tax in Belgium in 2026
How is crypto taxed in Belgium in 2026? Prudent management vs miscellaneous income vs professional income, tax ruling service and foreign accounts. Not tax advice.
ReadStaking and mining: tax treatment in the Netherlands and Belgium
How are staking, mining, lending and airdrops taxed in the Netherlands and Belgium? Valuation timing and deductible costs explained. Not tax advice.
ReadCrypto evidence and record-keeping in 2026
Which documents should you keep for your crypto tax return? Exchange and wallet exports, FIFO calculation, and how a portfolio tracker can help. Not tax advice.
ReadMore depth, lower spreads
Research archive, regulation alerts and sharper spreads on buys and swaps.
Rules
What is MiCA?
MiCA governs licensing, stablecoins and disclosure for crypto across the EU. What changes for users, providers and banks.
ReadMiCA in the Netherlands: AFM and DNB explained
How the Netherlands implements MiCA: the split between AFM and DNB, the transitional regime for existing providers, and how to verify a licence.
ReadMiCA in Belgium: FSMA and the National Bank
How Belgium implements MiCA: the roles of the FSMA and the National Bank, plus Belgium's extra rules on crypto advertising.
ReadAdvertising and marketing rules for crypto
What rules govern crypto ads in the Benelux? Risk warnings, influencer rules and what is and isn't allowed.
ReadThe travel rule: what happens to your data on a transfer?
The travel rule requires crypto providers to share sender and recipient data on transfers. What does this mean for you?
ReadAnti-money laundering rules for crypto: AMLD and AMLA
How do Europe's anti-money laundering rules apply to crypto? The role of the AML directives and the new EU authority AMLA.
ReadConsumer rights at an EU-licensed crypto provider
What rights do you have with an EU-licensed crypto provider? Complaint procedures, dispute resolution, and what isn't protected.
ReadDORA: digital operational resilience for crypto
DORA requires crypto and fintech firms to be digitally resilient. What do you notice as a user of these operational requirements?
ReadCrypto regulation in the United States
How the SEC, CFTC and individual US states regulate crypto, and what that fragmented oversight means for users and providers.
ReadCrypto regulation in the United Kingdom
How the FCA regulates crypto in the UK after Brexit, and how the rules differ from the EU's MiCA framework.
ReadCrypto regulation in Asia
How crypto rules differ between Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea, and what makes Asia a diverse regulatory landscape.
ReadCBDCs and the digital euro worldwide
What CBDCs are, how far the ECB's digital euro has progressed, and how central bank digital currencies compare with crypto.
ReadCrypto bans and restrictions worldwide
Overview of countries that ban or restrict crypto, why they do it, and what it means for exchange access, payments and travel.
ReadCrypto rules in Switzerland and Dubai
How Switzerland (FINMA, Crypto Valley) and Dubai (VARA) regulate crypto as attractive hubs, and how that differs from the EU approach.
ReadInternational standards: FATF, BIS, FSB and IMF
How FATF, BIS, FSB and IMF set international crypto standards and how these feed into EU rules such as MiCA.
ReadCrypto rules in Belgium
Who supervises crypto in Belgium? The role of the FSMA and the National Bank, the advertising rules, and what MiCA adds on top.
ReadThe digital euro
How the ECB's digital euro would work, what happens to your privacy, how it differs from crypto and stablecoins, and when it might arrive.
ReadBanks & payments
Buying crypto at your bank: what's possible and what isn't
Why most banks in Belgium and the Netherlands don't offer direct crypto trading, what they do offer, and what it means for custody and cost.
ReadRevolut and crypto explained
How crypto trading works inside Revolut, which entity holds your coins, what withdrawal means and where the costs really sit.
Readbunq and crypto explained
What bunq offers around crypto, how that differs from direct coin custody, and what it means for withdrawal, cost and tax filing.
ReadBitvavo explained
How Bitvavo works as a crypto platform, what falls under MiCA supervision, how custody and withdrawal are arranged and where the costs sit.
ReadCoinbase explained
How Coinbase works for users in Belgium and the Netherlands, what the EU licence means, how custody and withdrawal work, and where costs sit.
ReadKBC, ING and crypto: what the big banks do and don't do
How large banks like KBC and ING relate to crypto, what the ETP route involves, and how transfers to crypto platforms are screened.
ReadWhen your bank blocks a transfer to a crypto platform
Why banks block transfers to crypto platforms, what rights you have and how to resolve a refused payment properly.
ReadYour bank calls about your crypto transactions
Which questions banks ask about crypto transactions, which documents help and how to answer without complicating your file.
ReadProve where your crypto wealth came from
How to build a watertight file from first purchase to payout so banks and tax authorities accept your gains.
ReadSEPA in practice: limits, timing and recalls
Instant payments, daily limits, recalls and why a deposit sometimes hangs for a day. Practical rules for NL and BE.
ReadOrganising your banking as a crypto investor
Which banking choices work for frequent crypto buyers and sellers, and how to organise payments without friction.
ReadAI & stocks
AI stocks explained
Which companies actually earn money from artificial intelligence? A walk through the AI chain: chips, data centres, cloud, models and applications, with the risks in each layer.
ReadValuing AI stocks
From P/E and PEG to capex, free cash flow and customer concentration: how to judge whether an AI stock is expensive or justifiably highly valued.
ReadAI stocks alongside crypto
AI stocks and crypto move together more often than investors assume. How to set an allocation, manage correlation and avoid doubling the same risk.
ReadTokenisation (RWA)
What is tokenisation (RWA)?
Tokenisation turns bonds, funds and property into tokens on a blockchain. How it works, what changes legally and where the real risks sit.
ReadTokenised bonds and funds
Government bonds and money market funds are tokenisation's first real use case. How yield, custody, settlement and risk work in practice.
ReadTokenised real estate
Property tokens promise access from small amounts. How the structure works, what it costs and why liquidity usually disappoints.
ReadTokenised treasuries and money market funds
How tokenised treasuries and money market funds work, how the yield is generated and which risks remain despite the blockchain layer.
ReadProperty tokenisation in Europe
How property tokenisation in Europe is legally structured, what it actually delivers and why tradability does not guarantee real liquidity.
ReadTokenised private equity and private credit
How tokenised private equity and credit funds work, what changes for liquidity and which risks remain despite the token layer.
ReadTokenisation of gold and commodities
How tokenised gold and other commodities are physically backed, who controls storage and which risks remain.
ReadRisk checklist for RWA tokenisation
A step-by-step checklist to assess a tokenised RWA offering on legal structure, custody, liquidity and costs.
ReadTokenisation and the EU legal framework
When does a token fall under MiCA versus MiFID, what does the DLT Pilot Regime do, and when does a token qualify as a security?
ReadCustody and settlement of tokenised assets
How do custody, delivery-versus-payment and the role of CSDs and banks work in the safekeeping and settlement of tokenised securities?
ReadTokenisation in Belgium and the Netherlands
How do the FSMA and AFM approach tokenisation, what tax points matter, and how far has the market progressed in Belgium and the Netherlands?
ReadPortfolio & risk
Building a crypto portfolio without guesswork
How to split capital across bitcoin, altcoins, equities and cash. A sober framework with percentages, horizon and risk limits.
ReadDCA or lump sum
Spreading purchases versus investing all at once: what the numbers say, when DCA wins and how to build a schedule you keep.
ReadRebalancing without emotion
When and how to return your crypto portfolio to target weights — with bands, costs and tax in mind.
ReadPosition sizing: calculate your maximum loss
Size positions from maximum loss instead of gut feel, with formulas, examples and limits per risk profile.
ReadDrawdowns: the price of crypto returns
Bitcoin's historical drawdowns, why recovery is mathematically hard and how to build a plan that carries you through a bear market.
ReadYour biggest opponent is between your ears
The thinking errors that cost crypto investors the most money, and concrete rules to switch them off.
ReadFraud & scams
Spot crypto scams before you pay
From guaranteed returns to fake platforms: the recurring patterns behind crypto fraud and the checks you can run in two minutes.
ReadPhishing and fake support in crypto
Fake emails, fake support agents and cloned websites: how the attack works and which habits protect you.
ReadRug pulls: how a project takes your money
Tokenomics, liquidity, anonymous teams and contract permissions: the checks that reveal whether a project can take your money.
ReadPonzis in crypto form
How to spot a ponzi by its yield source, why returns look fine until they stop, and which cases prove the pattern.
ReadWhat are you actually signing?
Approvals, permit signatures and drainers explained, plus how to review and revoke permissions before things go wrong.
ReadWhat to do after crypto fraud
Step-by-step after fraud or theft: secure evidence, report to police and regulators, and avoid recovery scams.
ReadReading on-chain
Reading a transaction in the block explorer
Hash, confirmations, gas, status and addresses: what every field means and how to judge a stuck transaction.
ReadGas: why your fees differ by the minute
Why fees vary, how gas limit and fee per gas interact, and how to pay structurally less without added risk.
ReadThe mempool: the network's waiting room
How the queue of unconfirmed transactions works, how to pick the right fee and what to do when stuck.
ReadWhen is a crypto payment truly final?
Why exchanges wait for multiple blocks, what finality means under proof-of-stake and how many confirmations suffice.
ReadOn-chain data: what actually means something?
Which on-chain numbers say something about real usage and which are mostly noise, with the pitfalls per metric.
ReadFollowing whales: useful or a waste of time?
What large transfers do and do not mean, how exchange flows are read and why whale alerts are often noise.
ReadMining
What is crypto mining?
Mining explained without jargon: why networks need computation, what a miner does and where the reward comes from.
ReadProof-of-work versus proof-of-stake
Two ways to secure a network. What they cost, which attacks they deter and why the debate is rarely about technology.
ReadCalculating mining returns
The maths behind mining: hashprice, J/TH efficiency, power price, pool fee and depreciation — with a worked example.
ReadMine at home or host it?
A practical comparison between a miner at home and hosting in a data centre: costs, risks, noise and contract terms.
ReadMining pools explained
How pools remove variance, which payout models exist and what to check when choosing a pool.
ReadHalving and mining economics
Every four years the block reward halves. What it does to margins, hashrate, hardware cycles and the role of fees.
ReadEnergy and sustainability
Where mining gets its power, how curtailment and waste heat work and which European reporting duties are coming.
ReadMining and tax in Belgium and the Netherlands
How mining and staking income is treated in Belgium and the Netherlands, which records to keep and where professional income begins.
ReadStaking & yield
Staking explained
How staking works on Ethereum, Solana and Cardano: where the yield comes from, the risks and what liquid staking changes.
ReadWhat is staking?
Staking explained without marketing language: what you actually do, who pays you, why there is a yield and which returns are realistic.
ReadCalculating staking yield
Step by step from gross APR to net real yield: commission, inflation, uptime, compounding and tax.
ReadSolo staking or outsourcing
The four ways to stake compared on minimum size, control, counterparty risk, technical burden and yield.
ReadLiquid staking explained
How liquid staking tokens work, why they sometimes trade below par and which risks you buy along with them.
ReadThe risks of staking
What slashing is, how likely it is, what downtime costs and which queues you meet when exiting.
ReadRestaking explained
What restaking is, which problem it solves for new services and why researchers and regulators are cautious about it.
ReadChoosing a staking platform
What to check on commission, licensing, custody, exit terms and transparency — with a concrete checklist.
ReadStaking and tax
How staking rewards are treated for tax in Belgium and the Netherlands, which records to keep and where professional income begins.
ReadCase studies
Mt. Gox: how 'not your keys' became a saying
How the largest bitcoin exchange of 2014 collapsed, what went wrong in custody and which lessons still apply.
ReadTerra/LUNA: the collapse of a design
The mechanics behind the UST peg, why 20% yield was unsustainable and which warning signs were visible in advance.
ReadCelsius: the lesson on yield without a source
How a high-yield crypto savings platform collapsed, where the money actually came from and how to spot similar constructions.
ReadFTX: reputation is not proof of reserves
The structure behind FTX's collapse, Alameda's role and the controls the industry adopted afterwards.
ReadReading proof of reserves without illusions
Merkle trees, attestations and audits explained, including the key blind spot: liabilities that are not counted.
Read