Binance has applied for a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license through Greece, marking a decisive move to secure regulatory approval in the European Union ahead of the bloc’s compliance deadline. The application places Greece at the center of Binance’s strategy to maintain uninterrupted access to the EU’s 27-nation market under the region’s new unified crypto framework.
Under MiCA rules, crypto asset service providers must obtain authorization from a national regulator by mid-2026 to continue operating legally across the EU. Once approved in a single member state, firms gain “passporting” rights, allowing them to offer services across the entire bloc without seeking separate licenses in each country. Binance’s filing with Greece’s Hellenic Capital Market Commission positions the exchange to take advantage of this structure.
As part of the process, Binance has also established a holding entity in Greece, signaling longer-term intentions beyond a simple licensing exercise. The company has described the move as part of its broader effort to align with European regulatory standards, including governance, consumer protection, and operational transparency requirements set out under MiCA. Greece’s growing role in financial services regulation and its engagement with digital asset oversight are understood to be factors in the decision.
The application comes after years of heightened scrutiny of Binance’s operations in Europe. In several EU countries, regulators previously raised concerns around registration status, compliance controls, and consumer safeguards. MiCA is designed to address these issues by replacing fragmented national rules with a single regulatory regime, giving authorities clearer oversight while providing firms with legal certainty.
If approved, the license would allow Binance to continue offering crypto trading, custody, and related services across the EU under a harmonized rulebook. Failure to secure authorization, however, could force crypto firms to scale back or exit European markets entirely once transitional periods expire.
Binance’s move reflects broader users among major crypto platforms as MiCA moves from policy to enforcement. Exchanges, stablecoin issuers, and service providers are increasingly racing to establish regulated bases within the EU to protect market access and reassure users. With the deadline approaching, regulators are expected to face a surge in applications, making the approval process a critical test for both crypto companies and supervisory authorities navigating the EU’s most comprehensive digital asset framework to date.
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