Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has submitted a formal application for a MiCA license and established a holding company in Greece to anchor its European footprint. The move comes amid intensified scrutiny by French regulators and in the context of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, which has been fully applicable since December 2024. By July 1, 2026, all crypto platforms operating in the EU must obtain proper authorization or face removal from the market.
French banking regulator ACPR has identified deficiencies in Binance’s risk control systems during inspections, underscoring the regulatory risk firms face as MiCA enforcement tightens. Rivals including Kraken, KuCoin, Bybit, Coinbase, and OKX have already secured MiCA-compliant licenses across the European Economic Area or are poised to launch. More than 50 crypto firms now hold MiCA approval, underscoring the gatekeeping required to operate in the EU.
Binance cannot be missing from this expanding roster as it positions itself for compliant participation across the bloc. Binance co-CEOs Yi He and Richard Teng have signaled optimism for 2026, noting that growth will be driven by sovereign-state capital and enterprise-grade on-chain applications rather than sentiment. They said the company will continue investing in security, compliance, and education to give users safe access to the crypto ecosystem as the regulatory framework evolves.
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