Binance, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange by volume, is intensifying its efforts to secure a long-term foothold in Europe. The company has officially submitted an application for a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license in Greece, aiming to align its operations with the European Union’s comprehensive new regulatory framework.
Navigating the June Deadline
The timing of this application is critical. Financial regulators across the EU are tightening the net as the transition period for crypto compliance approaches its end.
- The French Warning: Just last week, France’s Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) identified Binance as one of 90 firms currently registered but not yet fully licensed under MiCA.
- Compliance Clock: French authorities have set a hard deadline for June 30, 2024. Any firm failing to obtain full authorization by then will be forced to cease operations in the country by July.
A Binance representative confirmed to Cointelegraph that the exchange is actively collaborating with the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC). The company views MiCA as a “positive milestone” that provides much-needed legal clarity and enhanced protection for users.
The Race for Licenses in Europe
While Binance is moving forward in Greece, the country has yet to grant its first MiCA authorization to any crypto-asset service provider (CASP). According to the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the landscape remains uneven:
| Country | Issued MiCA Licenses |
| Germany | 43 |
| Netherlands | 22 |
| France | 11 |
| Greece | 0 |
The push for compliance isn’t limited to crypto-native firms. In Belgium—another nation yet to issue a MiCA license—the banking giant KBC recently announced plans to offer Bitcoin and Ether trading, signaling that traditional financial institutions are also racing to meet these new standards.
A History of Regulatory Pressure
Binance’s current pro-compliance stance follows years of friction with European and global regulators. In 2021, multiple EU member states warned that the exchange was operating without proper registration.
The pressure culminated in late 2023 when former CEO Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to money-laundering charges in the United States. Following a four-month prison sentence, the exchange has undergone a major strategic shift, prioritizing “responsible innovation” and strict adherence to local laws.
