Binance Finds Backdoor into Europe’s MiCA

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Grab a coffee and settle in—Binance is quietly making moves in a corner of Europe that might reshape how crypto operates across the continent.

Crypto News of the Day: Binance’s Greek Gambit Is A Late Entry But With Big Ambitions

Fortune reported that Binance has formally applied for the European Union’s pan-European MiCA license via its newly established Greek subsidiary, Binary Greece.

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The move positions Binance for full compliance with the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework ahead of the critical July 1, 2026, deadline. After this date, unlicensed platforms risk restrictions or exclusion from serving EU and EEA users.

“Crypto-asset service providers that provided their services in accordance with applicable law before December 30, 2024, may continue to do so until July 1, 2026, or until they are granted or refused an authorization pursuant to Article 63, whichever is sooner,” said the European Securities and Markets Authority.

The decision to base the application in Greece, rather than traditional crypto-friendly hubs like Malta or Luxembourg, is a surprising strategic play.

With a registered capital of €25,000 (almost $30,000) and a single-shareholder public limited company structure, Binary Greece signals Binance’s long-term commitment to establishing a European footprint.

The Greek authorities, while not historically the fastest in issuing licenses, offer a potentially streamlined approval process and a less saturated regulatory environment. This makes the country an emerging hub for crypto operations.

MiCA, which entered into force in 2023, provides a unified regulatory framework across all 27 EU member states plus EEA countries. This is roughly 450 million potential users.

By securing a license from any member state, exchanges can passport their services across the continent. This eliminates the need for fragmented national registrations and eases compliance costs.

For Binance, MiCA approval would unlock pan-European operations, including trading, custody, and compliant stablecoin offerings. At the same time, it would address prior scrutiny in countries such as France.

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Catching Up in a Crowded Field: Binance’s Race to MiCA Compliance

Several other major exchanges have already secured MiCA or equivalent CASP licenses, including:

These licenses enable seamless EU-wide operations and position holders ahead in a regulated environment.

Binance’s late entry, however, leverages the company’s scale and operational expertise to catch up. With this, it could reclaim market share in Europe, where prior restrictions limited its reach.

The Greek subsidiary has been incorporated for an indefinite duration, signaling a long-term strategic presence rather than a temporary arrangement.

The July 2026 deadline adds pressure on Binance and other global operators. The full MiCA compliance is mandatory for offering services such as:

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• Stablecoin issuance
• Exchange trading, and
• Custody across the bloc.

Notably, some EU countries (France, Italy, and Austria) have expressed concerns over MiCA’s passporting mechanism.

They suggested greater centralization under the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). However, upending the framework at this stage would be disruptive.

Binance’s prospective approval would not make it uniquely superior in licensing, as it would be joining a competitive arena of MiCA-compliant exchanges.

However, the move would eliminate a major regulatory overhang, enhance credibility, and enable cost-efficient pan-European expansion.

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With Binary Greece, Binance is staking a strategic claim in both the EU market and the nascent Greek crypto ecosystem.

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